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CHRYSLER’s Minivan Makeover

NEW CARS

PREVIEW

2017 ››››››››››››

252

Exclusive Ratings HOT NEW MODELS

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Chevrolet Honda Toyota & More MAZDA CX-9

Specials

BEST & WORST Fuel Economy

TOP TIRES For Your Car, SUV, or Truck

Display Until November 14, 2016

CONTENTS NEW CARS November 2016

Mazda CX-9

Ratings & 2016-17 Reference MODELS 37 STANDOUTS BY CATEGORY 40 VEHICLE RATINGS 52 GUIDE TO PROFILES 54 252 VEHICLE PROFILES 180 ROAD-TEST HIGHLIGHTS 186 CRASH-TEST RESULTS

192 VEHICLE DIMENSIONS 197 TIRE RATINGS

Ask the Experts Readers ask about whe to change the oil on low-use vehicles, why we don’t recommend an all-season tire, and the best vehicles to get to 200,000 miles.

Coming Soon We take a look at some of the significant new and redesigned models hitting showrooms in the near future, including the Chevrolet Bolt, Honda Clarity, Maserati Levante, and the Toyota C-HR and Highlander.

PHOTO: CHILD SEAT/JOHN WALSH ,JOHN POWERS ILLUSTRATION: SERGE BLOCH

the Track 7 At Need a new vehicle to haul your family and their gear? Here are five significant new and redesigned vehicles that can help: the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Ridgeline, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-9, and Tesla Model X.

Mileage Misers Our analysts studied our test results to determine which models got the best and worst fuel economy. Plus: Tips to get the best mileage.

Find a Safe Child Seat

Get the Most for Your Trade-In

From infant seats to boosters, we rate them all and explain the ins and outs of choosing a child safety seat.

Even if you get a great deal on your new car, you can lose that entire savings on your old one.

Three-Row SUV Roundup If you want a new three-row SUV for your garage, we detail the strengths and weaknesses of the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Dodge Durango, Honda Pilot, Kia Sorento, and Toyota Highlander.

for Your 22 Flash Dashboard We look at the Good and the Bad of each brand’s infotainment system, and what owners had to say about them.

Follow Our Car Experts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram, and send them your car questions: facebook.com/ConsumerReports @CRCars @CRCarsGabe - Gabe Shenhar @CRCarsJake - Jake Fisher @CRCarsJon - Jon Linkov

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@CRCarsTom - Tom Mutchler @MarkRechtin - Mark Rechtin instagram.com/CRCars YouTube.com/ConsumerReports Pinterest.com/ConsumerReports

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 1

The CR Difference

ip your toe into the car-buying market this summer and soon enough you’ll be faced with a challenge: Should you hold off for something new down the road, or bask in the immediate gratification of buying and driving home a new 2016 or early 2017 model today? To help guide your decision, on page 4 we take a look at the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt, the Honda Clarity fuel-cell sedan, the Toyota C-HR small crossover, and other exciting models coming later this year. If waiting isn’t in your plan, on page 8 we share our insights on new models available now: the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Ridgeline, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-9, and Tesla Model X. Consumers continue to gravitate toward SUVs as fuel prices average around $2.30 per gallon nationwide. If you’re shopping in the highly-competitive three-row SUV segment, don’t miss our review of the top-scoring models, starting on page 14. And for shoppers with a trade-in, we have tips on how to get the most money for your old car on page 32. No matter what you’re buying or when, you can rely on Consumer Reports’ ratings and reviews to steer you in the right direction. These are based on the most comprehensive, independent auto-testing program and survey data of any U.S. publication or website. First, we buy every vehicle we test, and our testers live with each one. So we can tell you which models hold up to the manufacturer hype and which make promises they can’t keep. Second, we find out about owners’ experiences with their personal vehicles through our subscriber and national surveys. This year, our exclusive reliability Ratings are based on more than 740,000 vehicles, whose owners reported the specific problems they have experienced with their car or cars. From this, we provide detailed reliability histories and predict the models most likely to be either trouble-free or trouble-prone. Third, our exclusive owner satisfaction survey gives us insights into how happy owners are with their cars, SUVs, and trucks. This year we collected data on some 230,000 vehicles. Finally, we’ve had a lot of seat time in new models, whether in cars we rented from the manufacturers or cars that we’ve bought, but haven’t completed testing. This way, we can give you insights as to whether it’s worth buying now, or waiting for a new or redesigned model down the road. Since we don’t accept outside ads, you can trust that our reviews tell it like it is, without glossing over shortcomings wthat might upset auto manufacturers and advertisers. In the end, by giving you the straight scoop we help you make the smartest choice on which car is best for you.

– Jon Linkov,

Cars Deputy Editor, and CR’s Auto Test and Editorial teams

2 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

NEW CARS

President & CEO Marta L. Tellado Senior Vice President, Brand & Strategy Leonora Weiner Vice President, Publishing & Marketing Operations Brent Diamond Vice President, Integrated Content Creation Liam McCormack Executive Director, Content Gwendolyn Bounds Director, Content Development Glenn Derene CARS CONTENT Director, Auto Testing Jake Fisher Director, Auto Test Operations Jennifer Stockburger Cars Content Development Team Leader Mark Rechtin Cars Deputy Content Editor Jon Linkov Cars Deputy Content Editor Jeff Bartlett Cars Senior Multimedia Content Creator Michelle Naranjo Cars Multimedia Content Creator Mike Monticello MAGAZINES & NEWSLETTER PRODUCTS Editor-in-Chief, Consumer Reports Magazine Diane Salvatore Design Director Matthew Lenning Manager, Art Operations Sheri Geller Senior Art Director Lisa Slater Prepress Color Associates Frank Collado, Mark Linder Contributing Photographers John Walsh, John Powers Manager, Editorial Production Eric Norlander Editorial Production Associates Terri Kazin, Aileen McCluskey Associate Director, Editorial Research Jane Healey Assistant Decarris Bryant Auto Test Center Anita Lam, Data Program Manager; Thomas Mutchler, Program Manager, User Interface; Michael Quincy, Auto Content Specialist; Gabriel Shenhar, Program Manager, Vehicle Dynamics; Joseph Veselak, Testing Technician; Seung Min “Mel” Yu, Automotive Analyst; Michael Bloch, Child Seat Project Leader; Emily Matthews, Automotive Safety Engineer; Shawn Sinclair, Automotive Engineer; Eugene Petersen, Tire Program Manager; Chris Jones, Auto Tire Technician; Ryan Pszczolkowski, Auto Tire Technician; Donna Johnson, Administration; John Ibbotson, Workshop Supervisor; Mary Reed, Business Manager; Erik Dill, Facilities Manager; Frank Chamberlain, ATC Track Maintenance Specialist; Michael Jascot, Facilities Technician; Steve Kuczynski, Facilities Technician Content Strategy & Development Nancy Crowfoot, Associate Director, Scheduling; Diane Chesler, Associate Content Operations David Fox, Director; Valerie Pedrozo, Associate Director; William Breglio, Manager, Content Production; Anthony Terzo, Content Production Coordinator; Wayne Lizardi, Imaging Associate; Eugene Chin, Project Leader, Content Production; Robert Lew, Project Leader, Data Integration; Patrick Doheny, Data Integration Analyst; Todd Young, Sr. Technical Lead, Data Quality; Dawn Yancy, Associate Content Quality Management & Planning Frank Iacopelli, Director; Valentine Jeffers, Program Manager Statistics Michael Saccucci, Director; Keith Newsom-Stewart, Martin Romm, Program Leaders Survey Research Steven Witten, Director; Simon Slater, Manager Consumer Insight Ed Farrell, Director; Karen Hoffman, Manager; Andrew Vogel, Senior Research Associate; Robert Huerster, Dirk Klingner, Senior Research Analysts Print Product Management Patricia McSorley, Associate Director, Newsstand Marketing Purchasing Steven Schiavone, Associate Director, Publishing Operations Communications Office Douglas Love, Associate Director; Charles Fields, Senior Communications Counsel; Kevin Winterfield, Director, Social Media; Yelena Dasher, Program Manager, Social Media Executive Staff Vice Presidents Lisa Cribari, Human Resources; Andrew Danyluk, Chief Enterprise Systems Officer; Pete DiRenzo, Chief Technology Officer; Jason Fox, Digital; Kim Miller, Chief Marketing Oficer; Eric Wayne, Chief Financial Officer

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS (ISSN 1530-3267) is published by Consumers Union of U.S., Inc., 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY 10703-1057. CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS is registered in the U.S. Patent Office. Contents of this issue copyright ©2016 by Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. All rights reserved under international and Pan-American copyright conventions. The information in CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS is intended solely for the use of its readers and may not be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose. Consumers Union will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized use of its materials, its name, or the name of CONSUMER REPORTS. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is forbidden without prior written permission (and is never permitted for advertising purposes). CU’s staff operates under a contract between CU and The Newspaper Guild of New York, Local 3, The Newspaper Guild, AFL-CIO. Printed in U.S.A.

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Ask the Experts Q Q

Why is the BFGoodrich g-force Super Sport A/S not recommended while the lower-rated Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season is?

I drive my car about 4,000 miles a year. If I change the oil at the recommended six months, it is clean and pretty full. If I follow the mileage recommendation, I’d go several years between changes. What do you recommend? —Julie Scandora

— Ms. Davis

A. The best ultra-high-performance all-season tires have at least good or better performance in all weather conditions. The BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S had only a fair rating for ice braking, whereas the Pirelli Nero All Season had good performance or better on dry and wet roads, and in winter conditions.

A. If you car uses conventional oil, stick to the six-month intervals. If you are using synthetic 12 months should be sufficient. But consider this: even a synthetic oil change done twice a year is a small dollar investment compared to the engine damage that can be done by delaying oil changes.

I purchased a 2012 Toyota Highlander because, several months ago, you listed it as a vehicle that would go 200,000 miles. Now it is no longer on your list. What happened? —Dr. Kim King

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A. The Highlander is still among the Best Used Cars. With regular preventative maintenance it should easily reach 200,000 miles. In our most recent survey, the Highlander simply wasn’t in the top 10—it was ranked 11th.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 3

COMING SOON S

hoppers aren’t the only ones who take a break in the summer. Car shows go on hiatus too, as the new model year vehicles—which debuted last fall and winter—begin to hit the dealers. Some, however, aren’t set to arrive until late 2016 or even 2017. Honda, for example, has shown the new Clarity line of alternative-fuel vehicles. But while the fuel-cell version goes on sale this fall in California, mainstream models don’t arrive until the calendar turns to 2017. Same with the Toyota C-HR, which will arrive in the U.S. in the Spring of 2017 as a 2018 model. Toyota’s mainstream Highlander keeps trucking along as one of the dominant players in the midsize three-row segment. But it gains some new technology for the 2017 model, which arrives late this year. Maserati’s new SUV challenges high-performance models from Land Rover and Porsche. And the new Chevrolet Bolt arrives this winter with a claimed 200-mile all-electric range.

4 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

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Honda Clarity FALL 2016 Honda has given the Clarity FCV fuel-cell vehicle some siblings—full electric and plug-in versions—and will be selling a full lineup of alternative-fuel vehicles under the Clarity umbrella. Not all will be available nationwide, however. First to arrive is the Clarity FCV, which hits select California dealerships this fall. The cabin feels roomy and comfortable, with space for five passengers. The newgeneration hydrogen fuel cell and powertrain are compact, similar in size to a V6 engine. Honda claims a driving range beyond 300 miles, and three to five minutes to fully fuel with hydrogen. The FCV is expected to lease for less than $500 per month, or a $60,000 purchase price. In early 2017 the Clarity Electric arrives, most likely in states that follow California’s emissions laws. Honda stresses the five-passenger car will be affordable while

offering “premium content and features.” The volume leader—the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid—arrives later in 2017. Available in all 50 states, it will feature a 40-mile all-electric range as well as a gasoline-hybrid extended range mode. This is likely to feature the engine working as a generator to keep the battery charged. If that range holds true, it’s nearly double that of the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, and 15 miles more than that of the Hyundai Ioniq plug-in version. All versions of the Clarity will come standard with the Honda Sensing safety suite, which includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lanedeparture warning, and road departure mitigation. CR’S TAKE Expect the Clarity Electric to go 200 miles between charges, similar to the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3.

Toyota C-HR SPRING 2017 Apparently, Toyota thinks that what the world needs now is another Nissan Juke: witness, the C-HR, or Coupe High-Rider. Along with its outrageous—polarizing, perhaps—styling, the C-HR ticks all the boxes in order to stand out in the hot and ever-growing tiny SUV segment. It features a hatchback for easy cargo storage and access, and the folding rear seats give it additional practicality. The raised cabin height, bulky fenders, and optional all-wheel drive lend it macho SUV-like cred, just in case someone mistakenly calls it a hatchback. Hidden rear door handles give the impression it’s a twodoor coupe. This coupe-like styling means a swoopy body, but likely brings with it visibility and cabin access challenges.

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Getting this tidy package underway will likely be the responsibility of a conventional, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. Both front- and all-wheel-drive versions of the C-HR will be offered. Expect the interior to focus on driver and front-seat passenger space, and feature some creative details to make it stand out from the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3, competitors in this low$20,000 segment. CR’S TAKE The C-HR is logical, given the gaping hole beneath the RAV4 in Toyota’s lineup. This SUV was originally supposed to be a Scion, with its Juke-like sizing and overlyaggressive styling.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

COMING SOON

Toyota Highlander FALL 2016

Maserati Levante FALL 2016 Better known for high-end sport cars and luxury sedans, Maserati has taken the inevitable step to offer a high-end, coupe-like sporty SUV: the Levante. Built on the Ghibli sedan platform, the Levante follows Maserati naming tradition, and is “inspired by a warm, Mediterranean wind that can change from mild to gale force in an instant.” Base models start at $72,000, and are powered by a Ferrari-built twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine making 345 hp. Top-trim S models—which reach skyward from $83,000— crank out 424 hp. Both are hooked up to an eight-speed automatic. Different drive modes alter the exhaust note, shift points, and suspension firmness. Maserati pegs the Levante S hitting 60 mph from rest in a brisk 5.0 seconds while the base model goes from 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds Standard equipment includes all-wheel drive and an adaptive air suspension with five height settings, along with forward collision warning with brake assist, lane departure warning, and a surround view camera. Rounding out the standard feature list is Fiat-Chrysler’s’ 8.4-inch Uconnect touch screen with navigation, heated and vented front seats, and a dual-zone climate system. CR’S TAKE While we expect a rich interior, fit and finish needs to be a step up from what we found in our Ghibli S Q4, whose craftsmanship was not up to snuff for a $90,000 car.

6 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

For years, the Highlander dominated our midsized SUV ratings with its combination of comfort, fuel economy, easy day-to-day livability, and strong reliability. For 2017 Toyota has upped the ante, to fend off challenges from GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia. On the safety front, the Safety Sense P suite will be available on all 2017 Highlanders. This includes

pre-collision warning with automaticemergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The system will also automatically apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t take action. Opt for the XLE trim line, and you also get standard blind-spot monitoring. The other major changes are under the hood. Not only does the 3.5-liter V6 get more power, but it will also be paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. In addition, all V6 models (except the LE) will come with a new start/stop system to save fuel. A sporty SE model is new, with 19-inch wheels, a stiffer suspension, and various interior and exterior trim pieces to set it apart. The Hybrid adds two more affordable trim lines (LE and XLE). Speaking of electricity, the interior gets four more USB ports to keep devices juiced. CR’S TAKE These updates address our criticism about limited availability of advanced safety systems, and are likely to slightly improve gas mileage, but we aren’t seeing any measures to reduce the wind noise we found.

Chevrolet Bolt WINTER 2017 The Bolt is an all-new pure-electric small hatchback that tucks its batteries neatly below the floor to optimize interior room. One major way the Bolt stands out is its claimed range of 200 miles, which about doubles most electric cars. Using a DC fast charger, the battery can reach 80 percent of capacity in 60 minutes. Our limited initial driving impressions showed that the Bolt is responsive and relatively fun to drive, with engaging handling. The roomy interior houses a new infotainment system with Bluetooth that can recognize the driver’s phone before entering the car, accelerating pairing. The navigation configures routes to maximize range and find local charge stations. Most advanced safety features will be standard when the Bolt begins production in late 2016. GM says it will cost around $30,000 after the $7,500 federal tax credit. CR’S TAKE The Bolt is notable for its truly useful electric range and eager driving characteristics, both rarities among most EVs.

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AT THE TRACK

auling the family—and all their gear—around town, to activities, and on vacation? We’ve had the chance to spend plenty of time driving some new models that may just fit your needs. Chrysler is attempting to reclaim dominance among minivans—a category that it invented—with the roomy, comfortable, and stylish Pacifica. Among three-row SUVs, we’ve added a Mazda CX-9

and Tesla Model X to our test fleet. The Mazda is the driver’s choice, with plenty of power and responsive handling. For attention seekers, the all-electric Model X can haul the family while staying green If a small SUV is more your speed, check out the Kia Sportage. It’s a functional, sporty, and refined five-seat option. For the truck shopper, Honda has reintroduced the Ridgeline, with its pickup bed and car-like ride.

Mazda CX-9 A three-row SUV designed for the driver TEST-CAR SPECS MSRP $40,470 Engine 227-hp, 2.5-liter turbo 4-cyl. Trans. Six-speed automatic Drive wheels All

The 2016 CX-9 calls out to those whose family responsibilities have forced their sports car in mothballs. In fact, Mazda uses “Driving Matters” to promote the CX-9.

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That’s a departure for the three-row SUV market, where “Cupholders Matter” is a more common rallying cry. We just bought a CX-9 Touring with the Premium package, and it’s already proven popular with our staff.

helped by a smooth six-speed automatic transmission. On the road the CX-9 feels alert and responsive, instilling confidence in corners. Yet the suspension commendably smooths out road imperfections. Added noise insulation gives the cabin a luxury feel.

DRIVING IMPRESSION While the 227-hp turbo engine sounds down on power, it makes plenty of low-end torque, and never struggles for power. That’s

INSIDE THE CABIN The CX-9’s cabin looks more plush than rivals from Honda and Toyota. But adjustments for the supportive front seats

are skimpy for a $40,000 SUV. The cockpit only comes in slim fit, with a narrow footwell. The supportive secondrow seats provide good posture, while the third-row seat is suitable for kids. The Connect infotainment system can be a challenge at first, but once mastered it has its pluses. Low-speed forward-collision warning is available on the Touring, but only top-trims get the full-speed system.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

AT THE TRACK

Kia Sportage New looks, better package TEST-CAR SPECS Price as tested $26,720 Engine 181-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cyl. Trans. Six-speed automatic Drive wheels All-wheel drive With the redesigned Sportage, Kia has attempted to address some big issues that plagued the old version, most notably the tight cabin and cargo space, ride quality, and a Poor score

Chrysler Pacifica Seeking to reinvent the minivan TEST-CAR SPECS Price as tested $38,245 Engine 287-hp, 3.6-liter V6 Trans. 9-speed automatic Drive wheels Front Minivans don’t have a great image among young consumers, even those who grew up in their parents’ Dodge Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country’s. A clean-sheet redesign aims to counter that perception with the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, whichreplaces the Town & Country. We bought a Touring L model, which starts at $34,495. We also added 18-inch wheels, an upgraded audio system, seating for eight, and a few odds and ends, bringing the total to $38,245.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS The new Pacifica has a very comfortable and controlled ride, with just a slightly firm edge coming through on rough roads. The interior also remains mostly quiet, interrupted by

8 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

some wind noise and a grittysounding engine. Handling feels more planted than the last Town & Country we tested, and responds more like a good midsized sedan than a living room on wheels. The 3.6-liter V6 is matched with a nine-speed automatic. We’ve complained extensively about this transmission in earlier products, but development has improved shift response and smoothness. At least the powertrain provides ample punch even if the transmission isn’t the best. We got 21 mpg overall in our tests, tied for best in the class. Within the next few months a plug-in Hybrid will be available (a minivan first), with a claimed 30 miles of electric range.

INSIDE THE CABIN The driving position is very roomy, and the seats remain comfortable over a long drive. Controls, also, are no sweat; the optional Uconnect infotainment system is a snap to learn and the 8.4-inch touch screen is easy on the eyes.

The Pacifica’s rear seats fold into the floor, creating a flat cargo space.

You can get either seven- or eight-seat configurations. Chrysler updated the second-row Stow-N-Go folding seats, which are now a bit more comfortable. Still, they aren’t as supple as those found in the Odyssey or Sienna. The third-row seats are surprisingly hard and awkward to move. They require some effort to fold and unfold, and it’s a long reach to access the handles/straps to operate them. Bolstering its position as a secure place to transport your family, the new Pacifica offers a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control with autonomous braking, and lane-departure and forward-collision warning.

To help keep kids happy on long trips, the Pacifica is available with a rear-seat entertainment system that includes high-definition 10-inch touch screens. This lets passengers watch movies, play built-in games, and access the built-in Internet connection with their mobile devices. Depending on how many options you choose, it’s clear that this new van can either be a simple and affordable hauler for growing families or a luxurious cruiser. Overall, we’re impressed with this latest redesign. But looking at Chrysler’s recent reliability history, we’d wait a year before buying one.

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AT THE TRACK in the IIHS small-overlap crash test. We bought an AWD LX and opted for the $1,100 Popular package, which includes a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats and mirrors, and roof rails. The total price came to $26,720.

Our LX has the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder, which is smooth throughout the rev range, and delivers ample power. The six-speed automatic operates serenely, whether at mild or full-throttle, showing good response to inputs. We’ve measured 23 mpg overall.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

INSIDE THE CABIN

Handling is mildly sporty, with well-controlled body roll and reasonably quick turn-in response. The ride soaks up bumps better than the old model, but it is still a touch firm and less cushioned than a number of rivals.

Interior quality is improved, with soft-touch material on the dash and window sills, and bits of matte-silver plastic trim that add a splash of color. Center stack controls are large and easy to decipher quickly, and we appreciate the radio volume

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and tuning knobs. The LX’s 5-inch touch screen is small; a 7-inch screen is optional. On long drives we’ve appreciated the power seat and adjustable lumbar support. The rear seat offers good head and leg room, and the seat backs recline via a well-placed lever next to the bottom cushion. Like most small SUVs, cabin access is very easy. However, visibility to the side and rear is a bit compromised by the lack of a third side window at the rear of the vehicle. A rearview camera comes standard, but getting safety gear is a convoluted process.

If you want forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, you’ll need to step up to the EX and opt for the $1,900 Premium package, which brings blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. Then you can order the $2,800 Technology package (with AEB, FCW, and lane-departure warning). Reassuringly, the new Sportage gets the top score in the small-overlap crash test. So far, we like what we have been seeing, with the new Sportage bringing style and functionality along with its improved refinement.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

AT THE TRACK

Tesla Model X Too bizarre for its own good? TEST-CAR SPECS MSRP $110,700 Engine 90 kWh electric, 417 hp. Trans. 1-speed direct Drive wheels All

Tesla Motors is an unconventional company that thrives on throwing normality out the window with its lineup of electric vehicles. And while breaking the mold can benefit consumers, if it goes too far, the benefit is questionable. And that, pretty much, sums up the new Model X threerow SUV. Filled with gee-whiz gizmos, this egg-shaped electric SUV sacrifices practicality and pragmatism for the purpose of showboating. The Model X starts at $83,000 for the base version with a 75 kWh battery. Initially, only high-end P90D performance models were delivered, priced at $115,500 before options. We

just purchased a Model X 90D, which stickered at $110,700.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS With the bigger of the two battery sizes, the 90 kWh, the EPA estimated range is 257 miles on a single charge. The P90D highperformance version has an estimated range of 250 miles. All Model Xs are all-wheel drive. Like the Model S sedan, the X is quick—a blur of acceleration off the line, and an instant and gratifying burst of thrust available anytime, anywhere. Tesla claims a 4.8 second 0-60 mph acceleration with the regular 90D. If you spend the extra $10,000 for Ludicrous mode, prepare for its full-throttle catapult that will slam you back into your seat and can make you dizzy to the point of a head rush during its frighteningly silent 3.2-second zap to 60. With a big, heavy battery pack under the floor, the center

of gravity is kept low. Cornering is stable and even-keel, contrasting with the top-heavy feel of many SUVs. The suspension and steering are well-tuned and make the Model X quite nimble. Even when pushing hard through the corners on our test track, the Tesla has proven to be utterly secure. All Model Xs ride on an air

suspension, making the Tesla’s ride feel steady and composed. Before our Model X arrives, we sampled one equipped with the 22-inch wheels and summer tires, and noticed that they conveyed a bit of jitter when encountering bumps. The ride is much more comfortable on the smaller 20-inch wheels that our version is equipped with.

While certainly a showstopper, the practicality of the Falcon Wing doors is questionable.

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Honda Ridgeline Car-like qualities in a truck-like package INSIDE THE CABIN Entering the car is theatrical. You touch the handle and the front door opens toward you by itself. If you program it a certain way, the door will open for you as you approach, like an invisible valet. The door handles stay flush with the body. Sensors monitor the car’s surroundings to stop the doors before they can hit an adjacent car or a person. But the fail-safe is not 100 percent accurate, as we found with the occasional door bump on the dallying leg, or the wayward backside. Some owners have complained of the doors hitting protrusions in their garages, though a software update has supposedly fixed that. On the plus side, the large opening practically allows you to walk in, with less ducking than a traditional door. Our six-passenger Model X has two captain’s chairs in the middle and two seats in the third row. Perched on a monopod, the captain’s chairs are comfortable enough. But these molded one-piece seats don’t fold flat, and barely even recline. Accessing the third row can be done even if a child seat is in the second row. A giant touch screen is the centerpiece of the dash, and your interface with audio, phone, navigation, and vehicle systems. But we’re not happy that drivers can surf the web when moving, a ridiculous distraction. Standard advanced safety gear includes blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision warning with automatic braking. You can get Tesla’s AutoPilot, which uses radar, cameras, and sensors to monitor the vehicle in traffic. And the “Summon” feature can move the car in or out of a tight parking space while you watch from the outside.

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VEHICLE SPECS MSRP $29,475-$42,870 Engine 280-hp, 3.5-liter V6 Trans. 6-speed automatic Drive wheels Front or all

After a two model-year break, Honda’s unique Ridgeline pickup returns as a 2017 model. Most obviously, it now looks more like a traditional truck, with lower sides and a longer, wider bed, making it considerably more useful. Like before, the Ridgeline uses unitbody construction and an independent rear suspension—borrowing underpinnings from the mild-mannered Honda Pilot SUV. The base, two-wheel-drive Ridgeline starts at $29,475. We rented a Black Edition, which starts at $42,870, from Honda for a first look.

ures are 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined for AWD models. Towing is limited to 5,000 pounds, trailing competitors like the Chevrolet Colorado (nearly 7,000 pounds) and the Toyota Tacoma (6,400 pounds). It wouldn’t be wise to take the Honda on a day of serious boulder hopping, either. This is where the carlike undercarriage will be too vulnerable, compared to traditional pickup trucks. Safety equipment like blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning with automatic braking are optional, but only on the two top trim levels.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

INSIDE THE CABIN

Despite the new styling, the Ridgeline retains some of the key ingredients from the old truck—such as the innovative tailgate that can swing open like a door, or flip down in normal fashion. All Ridgelines also get a handy, lockable trunk-like cargo space beneath the bed floor. The independent suspension that makes the trunk space possible also contributes to a much more comfortable ride and better handling than all conventional trucks. It drives very much like a contemporary SUV rather than an antiquated load hauler. The interior is very quiet, even on an extended highway cruise. The standard 3.5-liter V6 runs through a six-speed automatic, driving either the front or all wheels. EPA fuel economy fig-

Inside, you’ll find relatively comfortable seats and lots of handy bins and trays, including storage under the rear seat. All in all, it’s a lot nicer than inside a Tacoma or Colorado. The layout feels like a Pilot with a bed instead of a third-row seat. And all models come with keyless push-button start and a rear-view camera. Top trims get an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. But the sleek-looking pane of glass is a poor design that lacks conventional knobs and buttons. The result is an unintuitive screen layout, with controls that are hard to tap as you drive. Lower trim lines have a 5-inch screen that is controlled with knobs and buttons and is far easier to use.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Mileage Misers

The new vehicles with the best fuel economy, and tips on how to save fuel

12 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

tested. Once up to speed on the highway, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Combine trips. Avoid making multiple short trips or try to combine all errands into one trip. If you can, avoid rush hour as sitting in traffic burns more gas and emits more pollutants. Drive light. Reduce the amount of cargo you have in your vehicle—clean out all the useless junk in the trunk-and take off your roof rack when you’re not using it. This will lighten your load, reduce drag, and aid fuel economy. Ride share. Carpool to work or school and sporting events. Better yet, ditch the car altogether and use public

transportation or bike/walk to do errands or get to work. Skip gas-saving products. In our tests of some gas-saving products that promise better fuel economy, we have not found any that work. Simply put: Don’t waste your money. Check your route. With GPS, it’s easy to track traffic and choose alternative routes. Keep in mind that traveling at a consistent speed with few stops or traffic lights is best for fuel economy. Track gas prices. There are a number of apps such as Gas Buddy and AAA’s Tripik that will help you find the cheapest gas in your area.

What type of gas can I use in my car? While some cars require premium gas, many others simply recommend its use. We wanted to see whether consumers can save money by using regular gas in cars that merely recommended using premium fuel, and if it had any effect on fuel economy or acceleration. We evaluated two models: the 2015 Acura TLX 4-cyl. and the 2016 Nissan Maxima V6. Each recommends—but does not require—that the owner put in premium gas. In order to purge any premium in the fuel system, we drove them nearly dry,

then ran through a tank of regular. All tests followed our fuel economy test protocol, with consumption measured through an inline fuel meter. Both sedans achieved the same fuel economy with regular fuel as with premium. During testing, the cars felt and sounded the same; we did not experience any pinging or knocking noise in either car when using regular fuel. The owner’s manuals indicate that you might notice a decrease in performance when running on regular, but our test results say otherwise. The 0-60 mph acceleration

times were identical on regular and premium gas. So it’s okay to use regular even if the manufacturer recommends using premium, but check your owner’s manual before switching. Wondering about long-term effects? In conversations with manufacturers, there was never a connection made with using premium fuel for reliability reasons. They only talk about higher octane in terms of performance. But if you make the switch and think performance is sluggish, or you hear pinging, go back to premium fuel.

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PHOTO: ARCHIDEAPHOTO /SHUTTERSTOCK

he best way to burn less fuel is to buy a car that gets better gas mileage. But our tests with a Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and other vehicles show that even with a brand-new car there are ways to save at the pump. No idling. The general rule-of-thumb is to turn off your car if you know you’ll be stopped for more than 30 seconds. Don’t worry: the starter is designed for multiple, repeated starts. Keep your tires properly inflated. In our tests, we found fuel economy is reduced when tires are not inflated to where they should be. Do this when the tires are cold (before the vehicle has been driven or after no more than a couple of miles of driving). Use the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer, not the maximum pressure embossed on the tire’s sidewall. The recommended pressure is usually found on a placard on a front doorjamb, in the glove compartment, or in the owner’s manual. Slow down. Slowing from 75 to 55 mph boosted gas mileage 33 percent in testing performed on a family sedan and a large SUV. Be a smooth operator. Avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible. In our tests, frequent bursts of acceleration and braking reduced mileage by 2 to 3 mpg on a Toyota Camry we

Best In Fuel Economy Sure, gas is super-cheap—for now. But remember that the average age of cars on U.S. roads is 11 years old, so it’s likely you’ll see a gas-price spike with your next car. In order to make your wallet happy, we’ve identified the most fuel-efficient vehicles in each class. We included the worst performers at the bottom of most categories, so you can get an idea of just how good these top performers really are. Lexus CT 200h OVERALL MPG

CITY MPG

HIGHWAY MPG

139 ⁄ 111 ⁄ 107 ⁄ 106 ⁄ 105 ⁄ 94 ⁄/37 € 87 ⁄

135 ⁄ 104 ⁄ 108 ⁄ 86 ⁄ 99 ⁄ 87 ⁄/36 € 64 ⁄

141 ⁄ 116 ⁄ 107 ⁄ 118 ⁄ 109 ⁄ 98 ⁄/38 € 110 ⁄

MAKE & MODEL

ELECTRIC CARS AND PLUG-IN HYBRIDS BMW i3 Giga Mitsubishi i-MiEV SE Ford Focus Electric Nissan Leaf SL Chevrolet Volt Ford C-Max Energi Tesla Model S P85D

52 43 37 36 35 35 35 33 33 33

43 37 28 25 26 25 24 24 23 22

59 48 47 48 45 46 48 42 44 45

41 37 37 33 32 32 32 32 31 31 31 25

33 35 29 23 24 23 21 21 22 22 21 17

47 38 45 45 41 43 47 45 42 41 45 34

COMPACT CARS Toyota Prius V Three Ford C-Max Hybrid SE Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Mazda3 i Touring Mazda3 i Grand Touring (2.0L, MT) Toyota Corolla LE Plus Volkswagen Jetta SE (1.4T) Honda Civic LX Toyota Corolla iM Mini Cooper Base (3-cyl.) Honda Civic EX-T (1.5T) Mitsubishi Lancer ES

MIDSIZED CARS Ford Fusion SE Hybrid Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Mazda6 Sport Honda Accord LX (4-cyl.) Chrysler 200 Limited (4-cyl.) Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium (V6)

39 39 38 32 30 30 23

35 31 32 22 21 19 16

41 46 43 44 40 44 33

40 36 35 34 28 28 28 18 17

31 28 24 29 19 19 18 12 12

47 44 49 38 39 39 42 28 23

LUXURY AND LARGE CARS Lexus CT 200h Premium Lexus ES 300h BMW 328d xDrive Lincoln MKZ Hybrid BMW 328i Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Acura ILX Premium Mercedes-Benz S550 (4MATIC) Chevrolet SS

HIGHWAY MPG

Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Mini Cooper S Toyota 86 Subaru BRZ Premium Ford Fiesta ST Volkswagen GTI Autobahn Ford Mustang GT Premium (V8)

34 30 30 30 29 29 19

25 23 23 23 21 20 13

42 38 37 37 36 39 27

31 29 29 28 28 26 26 26 26 26 26 21 21 21

26 23 20 21 20 19 19 19 18 18 17 16 15 14

36 34 39 35 36 35 34 33 35 35 37 27 28 29

25 24 23 21 21 21 21 16

18 17 17 15 14 14 14 11

32 32 30 29 31 30 30 25

29 22 21 21 20 20 20 15 14

24 14 14 14 14 14 13 10 10

33 31 31 28 28 28 28 20 20

21 21 20 20 17

15 13 14 13 11

27 31 27 28 27

20 19 18 17

14 14 13 12

27 25 26 22

SMALL SUVs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Lexus NX 300h Honda HR-V LX Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Mazda CX-3 Touring Mercedes-Benz GLA250 Subaru Crosstrek Premium Mini Countryman S Hyundai Tucson Sport (1.6T) Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium BMW X1 xDrive28i Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Jeep Patriot Latitude Jeep Cherokee Limited

MIDSIZED SUVs Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (diesel) Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (2.4L) Nissan Murano SL Ford Edge SEL (2.0 EcoBoost) Chevrolet Equinox 1LT (4-cyl.) Kia Sorento EX (V6) Dodge Journey Limited (V6)

LUXURY AND LARGE SUVs Lexus RX 450h Lexus RX 350 Acura MDX Tech BMW X5 xDrive35i Mercedes-Benz GLS350d Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum Audi Q7 Premium Plus Lincoln Navigator Base Toyota Land Cruiser

MINIVANS

⁄Miles per gallon equivalent €Miles per gallon using gas engine

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CITY MPG

SPORTS/SPORTY CARS (tested with manual transmission)

SUBCOMPACT CARS Toyota Prius Three Toyota Prius C Two Mitsubishi Mirage ES Smart ForTwo Passion Honda CR-Z EX (MT) Ford Fiesta SE (3-cyl., MT) Toyota Yaris iA Honda Fit EX Chevrolet Spark 1LT Ford Fiesta SE (sedan)

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL MPG

Ford Transit Connect XLT (2.5L) Honda Odyssey EX-L Toyota Sienna XLE (FWD) Kia Sedona EX Dodge Grand Caravan R/T

PICKUP TRUCKS Ram 1500 Big Horn (diesel) Toyota Tacoma SR5 (V6) Chevrolet Colorado LT (V6) Ford F-150 XLT (2.7 EcoBoost)

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

TOP

Three-Row SUVs KIA SORENTO TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HONDA PILOT DODGE DURANGO ACURA MDX AUDI Q7

14 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

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VITAL STATS Overall score 84 Road test score 84 Price as tested $37,915 Trim line EX Drivetrain 290-hp, 3.3-liter V6; six-speed automatic; AWD Overall fuel economy 21 mpg WHY BUY ONE Y *JJFN HJM@ PKN><G@ <I? appealing than most rivals Y &<I?T NDU@ @<NT OJ maneuver, yet roomy Y Q<DG<=G@ OCDM? MJR N@<O Y 1HJJOC <I? @AAD>D@IO 4 Y 1OMJIB M@GD<=DGDOT Y I ''&1 2JK 1<A@OT .D>F WHY NOT BUY ONE Y *DHDO@? M@<M QDND=DGDOT Y &<M? OJ <>>@NN OCDM? MJR Y ,JO < =<MB<DI >JHK<M@? to Highlander, which holds its value

IT’S RIGHT IF: You want an SUV that’s relatively easy to handle in tight quarters, yet has an available third-row seat for hauling around the kids. The Kia Sorento strikes an intriguing compromise between small SUVs like the Honda CR-V, and midsized vehicles like the Toyota Highlander. Thanks to its segment-splitting size, the Sorento is fairly easy to maneuver in close parking spots, while offering accommodations, storage, and features more along the lines of larger rivals. The Sorento’s upper-class styling is backed up by a comfortable and quiet cabin, plus the peace of mind that comes with driving an SUV deemed an IIHS Top

Safety Pick. The base two-row Sorento comes with just a 185-hp fourcylinder. If you want more power, you can get a turbo four-cylinder, but we would opt for the slick V6. A third-row seat is also available. Our tested EX V6, at $37,915, adds leather seating surfaces, heated power front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. With the V6, you’ll always get the kids to soccer practice on time. The engine’s 290 hp is routed through a six-speed automatic to the front or all four wheels. With the optional tow package, the AWD V6 can pull 5,000 pounds. On the road, the Sorento has a smooth ride, absorbs pavement flaws effectively, and transmits low levels of

road and wind noise into the cabin. Handling is responsive and secure. The versatile second-row seat moves fore and aft, and the seatback reclines. The third row can fit average-size adults, provided the drive is a short one. Pairing your phone via Bluetooth is straightforward, and the voice control system understands myriad commands. And for 2017 Kia has equipped the Sorento with a larger touch screen. As competent as the Sorento is overall, our EX V6 AWD’s nearly $40,000 price is a healthy sum. But if you don’t need a bigger SUV, you’re in luck, as the Sorento’s pleasant driving experience, familyfriendly functionality, and solid reliability are a few of the reasons why it’s one of our Top Picks.

Kia Sorento BEST VERSION TO GET We think the EX V6 with the Touring package is the one to shoot for. Yes, it adds about $3,000 to the EX’s price, but brings with it a much larger, easier-to-use 8-inch touch screen with navigation, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, along with a massive panoramic sunroof. ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Toyota Highlander BEST VERSION TO GET The XLE delivers the best combo of features and value, with standard leather, moonroof, navigation system, and a power tailgate. While 2017 brings standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring is still available in pricey options packages or on the XLE and Limited trims. They’re available on competing SUVs for less money.

VITAL STATS Overall score 83/82 Road test score 85/84 Price as tested $50,875/$38,941 Trim line Limited/XLE Drivetrain 280-hp, 3.5-liter V6 hybrid; CVT; AWD/270-hp, 3.5-liter V6; six-speed automatic; AWD Overall fuel economy 25/20 mpg WHY BUY ONE Y >>JHHJ?<ODIB DIO@MDJM with easy-to-use controls Y 1O? AJMR<M? >JGGDNDJI warning and automatic braking for 2017. Y ''&1 NH<GG JAAN@O N>JM@ Y *JON JA A@<OPM@N AJM Y =JQ@ <Q@M<B@ M@GD<=DGDOT Y &T=MD? AP@G @>JIJHT WHY NOT BUY ONE Y GDI? NKJO NO<I?<M? JIGT on XLE & Limited Y 1JH@ DIO@MDJM OMDH GJJFN a bit low-rent

16 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

IT’S RIGHT IF: You want rock-solid reliability with very good fuel economy and resale value. You don’t have to be risk averse to see the appeal of the Highlander. But if you are, this vehicle is as worry-free as it gets. There are plenty of reasons to put it on your short list. The interior is spacious, fuel economy is impressive, controls are straightforward, and the standard backup camera is an excellent safety addition. Chances are your Highlander will have the smooth and refined 3.5-liter V6, a powerful workhorse that returns a decent 20 mpg overall. Want even better mileage? Opt for the Hybrid and you’ll see 25 mpg overall. For 2017, you don’t have to buy the

pricey Limited trim to get the hybrid . 2017 also brings standard Toyota Safety Sense P across the line. If you’re buying an SUV for its on-road manners, rather than spirited driving, the Highlander delivers. Nothing will surprise you, either in routine driving or in an emergency situation. It leans a bit in corners, but not excessively, and the steering has enough weight that you know you aren’t driving a toy car. Climbing inside isn’t a challenge, thanks to the wide door openings and low doorsill. But at first glance, the hard plastics, monotone interior panels, and rough trim edges seem out of place at nearly $40k. The experience gets better. Big, supportive seats give the

driver a stadium-like perch. Most controls are within reach, but shorter drivers may find it hard to reach the radio-tuning knob. That said, buttons and controls are mostly large, clearly labeled, and easy to quickly decipher and master. The big fonts on the eight-inch touch screen make it a snap to use. Choosing a bench seat in the back brings seating capacity to eight. We like the captain’s chairs, which are standard in the Limited and optional in the XLE. They provide easier access to the third row, but limit seating capacity to seven. While Toyota says the third row can fit three adults, it’s better for kids. Shop for a minivan if you need a bigger third-row seat.

IT’S RIGHT IF: You want your SUV to perform the family-hauling duties of a minivan and don’t mind being a poster child for a “Mom-mobile.” The Pilot does a commendable minivan impression with its flexible seating for eight; a roomy, versatile, interior; and easy access to all three seating rows. But in some ways the Honda is lost in the fog. On open roads, the Pilot maneuvers like an apartment building on wheels. Cumbersome cornering makes the Pilot feel reluctant to turn, and the vague steering chips away at your confidence. Plus, the mediocre braking on wet roads trails most competitors. The flip side to this is a comfortable ride, with a suspension that ably smooths out bumps. Some road imperfections will rock the Pilot from side to side, but they don’t undermine ride comfort much. Honda loaded up on the sound-deadening materials, too, resulting in a quiet cabin. The V6 is a gem, with prompt power delivery, and the six-speed automatic shifts smoothly. Our AWD Pilot returned 20 mpg overall; expect 21 or 22 mpg

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with front drive. Unfortunately, Touring and Elite trims are saddled with a nine-speed gearbox that’s neither smooth nor responsive, and it uses an unintuitive pushbutton shifter. Interior materials and details have been improved, and drivers of all sizes found plenty of room, with good access to the controls. The big windows and thin roof pillars give a commanding view. Though the wellpadded front seats are supportive, the lumbar adjusts only for pressure, not height. The second row is roomy, but the rearmost seats are best left for kids. Getting there is facilitated by a handy push button to slide the second row forward. Gauges are easy to read, and the climate controls are super-clear. But the touch-screen system is convoluted, and it’s frustrating to find menus, change the volume or radio

station, or adjust settings. Advanced crashprevention tech is available across the line, but only top-level Elite gets blind-spot detection. Honda’s LaneWatch camera requires you to take your eyes off the road to glance at the display.

Honda Pilot BEST VERSION TO GET The EX-L is the best combination of value and features. Its six-speed automatic avoids the push-button shifter that comes with the ninespeed unit found on higher trim levels. It’s also the lowest trim level that includes the handy one-touch folding second-row seats and lets you get options like navigation and rear-seat entertainment. We would get the Honda Sensing safety equipment as well.

VITAL STATS Overall score 76 Road test score 80 Price as tested $39,585 Trim line EX-L Drivetrain 280-hp, 3.5liter V6; six-speed automatic; AWD Overall fuel economy 20 mpg WHY BUY ONE Y &PB@ Q@MN<ODG@ DIO@MDJM Y ,DAOT JI@ =POOJI AJG?DIB seat access to third row Y 1GD>F KJR@MOM<DI Y 0D?@N R@GG <I? DN M@G<tively quiet Y Q<DG<=DGDOT JA <?Q<I>@? safety equipment WHY NOT BUY ONE Y &<I?GDIB G<>FN <BDGDOT big and bulky to drive Y GDI? NKJO HJIDOJMDIB only on top Elite trim Y $MPNOM<ODIB DIAJO<DIH@IO system Y ,DI@ NK@@? <POJ JI Touring & Elites is neither smooth nor responsive

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

IT’S RIGHT IF: You want a familyfriendly SUV that’s roomier and more upscale than most competitors, with plenty of towing ability. Combining tons of utility with abundant creature comforts and passenger room, the Durango comes ready for all-around domes- tic duty. It’s got plenty of cargo and towing capability for work needs, yet the interior is spacious, quiet, and well finished. The standard V6 provides plenty of power and smooth, responsive acceleration even when loaded. But keep in mind that most midsize SUVs do better at the pump than the Dodge’s 18 mpg overall. Stepping up to the optional V8 gives the Durango muscle car-like kick, and provides even more trailer pulling power. But it comes with some premiums: $3,000 in cash, and

Dodge Durango BEST VERSION TO GET a 3-mpg overall fuel economy penalty. The Durango rides comfortably and quietly, with handling that is surprisingly agile for an SUV this size. Inside, the Limited trim does a convincing job of impersonating an upscale sedan, with soft touch surfaces and controls that have a solid, quality feel. The Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system is one of the best. Front passengers sit high in big, supportive seats, and the second row can be had with captain’s chairs or a roomy—if somewhat low—three-seat bench. Two adults can fit in the third row, but it’s not the place for a long trip. The Durango is larger than most midsized SUVs. It

can be a handful to maneuver and park, particularly when backing up without a rear camera and cross-traffic alert. Both are only available on the Limited and higher trim models.

The midrange Limited trim should give most buyers the max for their money. It includes a host of desirable features, such as a rearview camera, heated leather seats and steering wheel, and the Uconnect 8.4 system. Opt for the V8 only if you regularly tow a heavy trailer. With either engine, get the factory towing package for its transmission cooler, trailer hitch, trailer wiring, and self-leveling rear suspension.

VITAL STATS Overall score 76 Road test score 83 Price as tested $43,525 Trim line Limited Drivetrain 290-hp, 3.6-liter V6; eight-speed automatic; AWD Overall fuel economy 18 mpg WHY BUY ONE Y 'O N >JHAJMO<=G@ M@ADI@? and very quiet Y &<I?G@N R@GG <I? A@@GN surefooted Y 2JRDIB ><K<>DOT DN CDBC and it tows very well Y 3>JII@>O NTNO@H DN among the best Y Q<DG<=G@ 4 @IBDI@ DN unusual in this class WHY NOT BUY ONE Y $P@G @>JIJHT Y RFR<M? OJ H<I@PQ@M and park Y 0@<M QDND=DGDOT DN NJ NJ

18 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

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VITAL STATS Overall score 79 Road test score 79 Price as tested $51,410 Trim line Tech Drivetrain 290-hp, 3.5-liter V6; nine-speed auto.; AWD Overall fuel economy: 21 mpg WHY BUY ONE Y 5@GG MJPI?@? <I? ?J@N everything with ease Y 'HKM@NNDQ@ AP@G @>JIJHT Y 4@MT C<I?T JI@ =POOJI third-row access Y !JHKM@C@INDQ@ standard safety features WHY NOT BUY ONE Y $MPNOM<ODIB NCDAO@M OJP>C screen, controls Y 2M<INHDNNDJI JAO@I doesn’t shift smoothly Y ,JO Q@MT <BDG@ JM NKJMOT to drive Y 1JH@ >JHHJI GPSPMT features are only on top-level Advance trim

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IT’S RIGHT IF: You are willing to trade a bit of practicality for style and luxury. For years, the upscale MDX has been a popular choice in both America’s suburbs and among Consumer Reports subscribers. It’s easy to see why: this is a well-rounded, functional, and competitively-priced vehicle that does most things well. The hushed cabin and supple ride provide the refinement expected of a luxury SUV. The 3.5-liter V6 engine is responsive and refined, plus delivers an impressive 21 mpg overall. While the nine-speed automatic helps fuel economy and acceleration, it doesn’t have the smoothest shifts and uses an unintuitive pushbutton setup. New for 2017 is a hybrid version, which uses a 3.0-liter V6, and a sevenspeed dual-clutch transmission.

The MDX has a roomy, comfortable, and very functional cabin that can hold up to seven people. Access to the thirdrow seat simply requires pressing a single button—a clever, user-friendly design. Such interior flexibility makes the MDX an excellent soccer-mom SUV. Alas, if you’re looking for driving pizzazz, you won’t find it here. While the MDX handles competently and securely, it has no sporty pretense. The steering is short on feedback, and this big Honda lacks the agility found in competitors such as the BMW X5 or Dodge Durango, even though it boasts “super-handling AWD” on its rump. Inside, the cabin is well finished. But, as with other recent Acuras, the dual-screen, in-dash infotainment system is so frustrating and distracting to use that it takes away from the otherwise pleasant experience.

Acura MDX BEST VERSION TO GET The best overall value is the Technology package. It includes the comfort and convenience features that you’d typically expect in this class.

In addition, Acura doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility in ordering options. Some common features are only available on the topof-the-line trim or by getting expensive packages or dealerinstalled options. One welcome exception to this: for 2017, the AcuraWatch Plus system is standard on all trim levels. This comprehensive suite of electronic safety features includes advanced technology such as self-braking capability and selfsteering to help ensure the vehicle doesn’t drift out of its lane.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

IT’S RIGHT IF: You want the trappings of a luxury SUV— size, power, quietness, ride quality, fit and finish—and are willing to pay a premium for it. Even after a long commute, the redesigned Q7 is one of those vehicles you want to stay in. This luxury three-row SUV is quick, relatively fuel efficient, light on its feet, and brimming with usable high-tech. While it’s one of the more expensive models in this category you get what you pay for, unlike with some competitors. Audi’s 3.0-liter supercharged V6 supplies smooth, refined power. The eightspeed automatic shifts imperceptibly and while 20 mpg overall in our tests doesn’t sound especially frugal, it’s good for the segment. Plus, the 7,700-pound towing capacity is impressive.

One striking characteristic is how occupants feel shielded from the outside world, isolated in a calm, tranquil cabin. Ride comfort is steady and composed, with some underlying firmness at urban speeds— unless you get the cushier $4,000 air suspension. Handling is responsive and confidence inspiring, which belies the three-row Q7’s size. Moreover, the predictable, balanced, and enjoyable Q7 comes alive on the track. It even acquitted itself better in our avoidance maneuver than more diminutive SUVs. We won’t argue if you think the Q7 is nicer than Audi’s A8 flagship. Leather, matte wood, brushed aluminum, and double stitching are all top shelf. The seats are super comfy and supportive even for the long haul. Rearseat room is also generous, although consider the third

row as suitable for children only. The procedure of getting into the third seat is not immediately obvious. In addition, child seats are easy to fit and secure. Audi’s optional 12.3-inch “virtual cockpit” instrument panel can highlight the functions you’re

on (audio, navigation, phone, trip info) while minimizing the gauges. The system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All of this tech comes with a learning curve, but it proves reasonably intuitive and surprisingly flexible. The “pre sense

city” safety system scans the road for other cars and pedestrians; it can apply full braking at speeds up to 25 mph in order to avoid a collision. Between 25 and 52 mph, the system will slow the vehicle to mitigate damage and injuries.

VITAL STATS Overall score 87 Road test score 96 Price as tested $68,695 Trim line Premium Plus Drivetrain 333-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V6; eight-speed auto.; AWD Overall fuel economy 20 mpg WHY BUY ONE Y *PSPMDJPN >JHAJMO<=G@ and quiet interior Y 1HJJOC B@I@MJPN KJR@M Y &<I?G@N R@GG Y 1O<I?<M? $!5 <I? # Y 2JRDIB ><K<>DOT AJM car-based SUV Y 4@MT @<NT OJ N@>PM@GT ADO child seats WHY NOT BUY ONE Y 2@>C C@<QT >JIOMJGN have steep learning curve Y 2CDM? MJR JIGT NPDO<=G@ for kids, despite Q7s size Y 0@<M QDND=DGDOT Y .M@HDPH @SK@MD@I>@ comes at a premium price

Audi Q7 BEST VERSION TO GET The Premium Plus is the sweet spot of the Q7 lineup. You need it to get blind-spot monitoring and many desirable options. Audi’s virtual cockpit instrument cluster is pretty cool, but it’s not a must-have. As with most Audis, if you plan to fully “load up” a lower trim with options, it’s often cheaper (or similarly priced) to buy the next trim line up. If you plan to tow, you should opt for the Towing package, which includes a hitch and wiring for trailer lights.

20 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

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Get More Flash in Your Dash Owners tell us which are smooth operators and bang-the-dash headaches.

FOR MANY OF US, the smartphone is the way we connect with friends and family, how we listen to music, and get to and from restaurants, weddings, and dentist appointments. Without it, many of us simply feel marooned. Which is not how automakers want us to feel when behind the wheel. It’s why for more than a decade they’ve developed infotainment systems that will do everything a smartphone will do—in a much less distracting way. Though each system comes with different bells and whistles, most look pretty similar: a 5- to 8-inch screen set in the center console (or sprouting up from it) and controlled by touch-screen technology, a knob, or a touchpad. But that’s where the similarities end. Our recent survey, involving more than 58,000 vehicles (2013 to 2016 model years), asked owners how satisfied they are with their

infotainment systems. The result: Systems are far from uniform in user experience and reliability. In general, units with large, easy-to-read screens and traditional radio knobs fared better than those with smaller displays or touch-sensitive buttons. Among the most common complaints: Voice-command technology that doesn’t work or requires very specific language prompts, systems that crash or are slow to respond, and costly navigation map updates. Our survey also showed that there’s not necessarily a correlation between vehicle cost and system quality. Cadillac Cue and the latest Infiniti infotainment systems, for instance, are poorly rated. On the other hand, troubleprone cars can have stellar systems. We recommend few Chrysler models, yet the brand’s infotainment system is the favorite of our respondents.

The Excellent Eight Great infotainment systems don’t necessarily come in great cars—and vice versa. We’ve called out eight perfect pairings, meaning vehicle models we recommend that have top-performing infotainment systems to match.

AUDI A6

CHEVROLET IMPALA

DODGE DURANGO

BUICK REGAL

Comfortable, sporty, and fun to drive, with an infotainment system that’s tactile and easy to use once learned.

A thoroughly modern and enjoyable car that has a quiet, roomy cabin and an infotainment system with no-nonsense knobs and buttons.

A luxurious, refined, and capable SUV with an infotainment system that’s the favorite among owners.

This satisfying sports sedan has agile handling; a quiet, comfortable cabin; and a highly intuitive infotainment system.

BMW 3 SERIES

HYUNDAI SONATA

HYUNDAI GENESIS (G80)

KIA OPTIMA

A sports sedan that’s fun to drive, with pinpoint handling and a first-rate infotainment system— once you get the hang of it.

An affordable performer with decent fuel efficiency, the Sonata comes with the most-liked voice-command and Bluetooth systems.

This exceptionally quiet and comfortable luxury car comes with both a straightforward touch screen and a controller knob for easier use.

The modestly priced Optima has nimble handling, comfortable seats, and a winning infotainment system. (Go for the larger screen.)

22 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

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THE STANDOUT

Fiat-Chrysler 70%

VERY SATISFIED

UCONNECT GOOD. There are many reasons why Uconnect 8.4 is a favorite with consumers: it has a quick learning curve, simple logic for the touch screen, good old-fashioned knobs and buttons, solid Bluetooth and voice command capabilities, and large fonts and onscreen buttons that take that simplicity to another level. BAD. Don’t confuse Uconnect 8.4 with the more basic Uconnect systems, which have smaller screens, less capability, and a much lower satisfaction rating (49%). You can’t pick phone contacts via the steering wheel controls. And Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are late to arrive.

VERY GOOD

Hyundai

63% VERY SATISFIED

Kia UVO

BLUE LINK GOOD. Blue Link has more standard, easy-to-use features than what is typically found in pricier cars. The up-level audio system with navigation brings a refreshingly simple control interface. Basic voice prompts or onscreen buttons are intuitive and the graphics are clear. Voice command and Bluetooth capability are among the best. A 2015 Sonata owner told us he’s “amazed at how easy [the system] works.” BAD. Some screen fonts, such as for the radio presets, are small. Basic Hyundai systems have a smaller screen, only showing three presets at once.

57% VERY SATISFIED

GOOD. Like sister company Hyundai, Kia’s systems use knobs and buttons along with a touch screen. It’s worth it to splurge for the optional uplevel system’s larger screen. As a 2016 Sorento owner complained, the basic screen “is way too small, and the messages on it are even smaller.”

BMW

60% VERY SATISFIED

IDRIVE

BAD. UVO doesn’t let you scroll through phone contacts via the steering wheel buttons, a convenience offered by some competitors’ systems.

GOOD. BMW’s knobs and buttons respond promptly. The big central display screen has large, easy-to-read fonts, and the latest versions added a touch screen that makes it easier to use. It’s a comprehensive and super-reliable system, with good Bluetooth connectivity. An X3 owner said, “The learning curve is fairly steep, but the system is not bad once you get the hang of it.” BAD. Some of iDrive’s functions are marked by cryptic hieroglyphics, necessitating some in-depth exploration time spent twisting, pressing, or jogging of the knob or poking the screen to see what each one means.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

VERY GOOD

IntelliLink

57% VERY SATISFIED

BUICK/GMC: INTELLILINK; CHEVROLET: MYLINK GOOD. The high-ranked systems from Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC closely mirror Chrysler’s design and are relatively simple to master. They all have clearly labeled onscreen menu Chevrolet MyLink items and pairing a phone is a quick, easy process that can be done using or to download directions straight to the voice commands. Audio, phone, and navigation system. trip information can be interacted with by comprehensive steering-wheel controls BAD. Not every Chevrolet MyLink system is and viewed in the instrument cluster, which created equal; ones with the larger eight-inch helps reduce distraction. Owners generally screen are easier to use than versions with like using the OnStar system, which can call the more basic seven-inch screen. Displaying a live GM concierge for roadside assistance additional audio presets can be tricky.

Lexus

Audi

57% VERY SATISFIED

MMI GOOD. Audi has added more hard buttons over the years to simplify the system. A 2013 Q5 owner summed it up, “[MMI] takes getting used to. Once mastered it’s intuitive.” Steering-wheel control shortcuts are welldesigned. The optional Virtual Cockpit replaces normal instrument gauges with a big digital screen that can display Google Maps straight ahead of the driver. BAD. Older versions of Audi’s MMI controller rotate counter intuitively when scrolling through radio stations. Some choices require you to look down at the console.

56% VERY SATISFIED

REMOTE TOUCH GOOD. Simple menus and customizable screens make it easy to find what you need, and there are knobs for volume and tuning. Owners like that the touchpad is easier to reach than a touch screen. Bluetooth streaming is easy. BAD. Touch-sensitive capacitive switches look flashy, but it’s easy to accidentally brush across them. The system blanks out the phone contact list (except for recent calls) when you’re driving, forcing you to either reach for your phone or use voice commands. The optional “Remote Touch” mouse controller is fussy; a Lexus RX owner reports that “using the mousebased system is cumbersome but manageable.”

24 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

AVERAGE

Nissan/Infiniti

54% VERY SATISFIED

NISSANCONNECT; INFINITI CONNECTION GOOD. Nissan Connect has a simple button layout, volume and tune knobs, and a bright screen. Frequently used controls, such as radio presets, station name, and time of day, are displayed regardless of which screen menu you are in. Bluetooth audio streaming works well. BAD. Some Nissan and Infiniti systems have dated graphics. The older Connection system works better than the newer, slow, and glitch-ridden InTouch that rolled out with the 2014 Q50— frequent software crashes and a slow startup process are common owner complaints.

Infiniti Connection

Nissan Connect

Mercedes-Benz 51%

VERY SATISFIED

COMAND

Volvo

52% VERY SATISFIED

SENSUS CONNECT GOOD. Many current Volvo models use familiar-looking radio knobs and buttons to control a center screen. Newer models, such as the XC90 SUV and upcoming S90 sedan, employ a large, iPad-like touch screen (below) that puts many controls at your hand. BAD. The older Volvo systems have convoluted menus, and it isn’t intuitive or easy to wind your way through them. The newer touch screens require a lot of swiping to navigate from screen to screen, and it gets very distracting to use.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

GOOD. Most of the system’s major functions (nav, radio, phone, etc.) are easy to navigate, particularly in earlier iterations of Comand. It’s easy to choose which function you prefer to view and interact with it through the cluster in the instrument panel. Onscreen fonts are clear and easy to read. BAD. While competitors have simplified their systems, newer Mercedes-Benz models like the S- and C-Class have fewer buttons and more complex menus. Going through the list of radio stations is a lengthy process. Irritatingly, the touch pad sits where you would naturally rest your hand, commonly resulting in inadvertent radio station changes. Voice commands aren’t always standard. In some models, if the radio is turned off the backup camera will not display.

Subaru

50% VERY SATISFIED

STARLINK GOOD. Pairing phones and streaming online audio is easy. Good old-fashioned knobs handle volume and tuning. The touch-screen has simple and intuitive page logic. Most fonts are large and easy to read. BAD. Some onscreen buttons are too small or close together to tap accurately at a quick glance while driving. Owners complained that the glossy screen “reflects bright sunlight, making it hard to see.” Many owners complained that the navigation system can’t be programmed while the car is moving. Some iPhone users found that Bluetooth audio didn’t play through the car’s speakers when connected to the USB port. The navigation system requires a frustrating multi-step process to program.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

AVERAGE

Ford 49%

Mazda 49%

VERY SATISFIED

SYNC/MYFORD TOUCH; SYNC/MYLINCOLN TOUCH GOOD. Ford has improved these systems over the years. Comprehensive voice commands save the day for audio, climate, and phone tasks. It’s easy to pair a smartphone with the system and use it to stream music through the car’s audio system. The new Sync 3 system is responsive, streamlined, and much-improved.

MAZDA CONNECT

The touch screen has some small text and tightly packed buttons that are hard to operate while driving. A 2013 Fusion owner told us, “MyFord Touch is a wonderful idea that was mostly implemented but never really finished.”

BAD. Owners report reliability problems, with the system “constantly rebooting” and sometimes requiring replacement. Subsequent years have had fewer problems, but the screen design remains frustrating and distracting, with some versions having small, touch-sensitive flush buttons on the center console that were “overly touchy.”

GOOD. Pairing a phone is quick and easy. Onscreen graphics are uncluttered and the fonts are large and clear. BAD. One owner sums it up well: “Mazda still has some work to do.” This isn’t an easy system to learn, often requiring several steps to conjure simple functions. More hard keys would help. Another owner says, “I’m not impressed. It’s difficult to get through all of the steps to get to where I want.” Owners were frustrated that the touch screen works only when the vehicle is stopped, and that the voice-recognition system often misunderstands commands. One owner complained that the Bluetooth was “incredibly flaky and crash-prone.” Some icons aren’t intuitive.

Sync 3

MyFord/MyLincoln Touch

TAKING APPLE AND GOOGLE ALONG FOR THE RIDE Love everything about your car except its infotainment system? There’s an app for that. Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto systems bring the familiar functionality of smartphones to the car’s screen. All you have to do is plug your Apple or

Android phone into any car that supports the system, and a modified version of your smartphone screen appears on your dash monitor. Both systems work well for phone calls and reading back text messages. They also provide voice-activated

26 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

navigation that’s easier to use than the systems installed by most auto manufacturers. Another meaningful advantage: Cloud-based maps and points of interest are always up to date, eliminating the need for costly map updates. And the most current

software is just a download away. As good as they are, there are drawbacks: Older cars require an aftermarket head unit. And only about one-third of new vehicles on the market offer them. CarPlay’s music player can be cumbersome, and

in GM models, it hides the outside-temperature display. On Android Auto, Pandora and Spotify have similar artistsong-album displays that rob unique features. And in cars without a touch screen you need to awkwardly use the system’s dial controller. ConsumerReports.org/cars

AVERAGE

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Toyota 44%

VERY SATISFIED

ENTUNE GOOD. Toyota’s interface has simple menus and customizable screens that make it easy to find what you need, as well as knobs for volume and tuning. Onscreen fonts and buttons are large—a big help for legibility. Entune has one of the most comprehensive Bluetooth streaming audio interfaces we have encountered. BAD. Touch-screen preset buttons are packed tightly together, and it’s easy to accidentally brush across the touchsensitive capacitive switches when reaching for something else. “The whole thing is hit and miss,” one owner says. The Entune app capability seems “clunky compared to phone apps.” The system blanks out the phone contact list (except for recent calls) when you’re driving, forcing you to either reach for your phone or use voice commands. Many respondents were frustrated that the navigation system can’t be programmed while the car is moving, preventing even passengers from entering a destination.

Honda Link

Honda/Acura

49% VERY SATISFIED

GOOD. An updated, somewhat quicker Cue has debuted with the new CT6 sedan.

GOOD. Basic Hondas have friendly non-touch-screen infotainment systems that use big buttons and a large screen that displays relevant information.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

40% VERY SATISFIED

CUE

HONDALINK; ACURALINK

BAD. Honda and Acura systems come in several designs, none of which make owners happy. Many were dissatisfied with voice-command quality—the lowest-ranked among brands. One owner found it “very difficult to use the commands because they must be said in ‘Acura-speak,’ not commonly used English words.” High-trim versions even lack a knob to adjust volume. System logic is unintuitive, requiring flipping through multiple oncreen pages to complete simple functions.

Cadillac

BAD. Cadillac’s Cue is an Achilles’ heel for GM. A typical complaint: “This car REALLY needs a co-pilot with an IT degree.” Owners criticized Cue for being “sluggish” and trouble-prone, findings backed up by Consumer Reports’ reliability data. Some owners report difficulty using Cue for months, even years, after purchase. Many criticisms focus on capacitive-touch buttons that are overly sensitive; one consumer noted that you “barely have to wave your hand in front of the Cue system and you change radio stations.” Acura Link

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Make Your Move... Earlier Your child needs a convertible seat sooner than you think

early two years ago, Consumer Reports inaugurated a new crash-test protocol to evaluate child safety seats—a test we believe gauges the relative safety potential of child seats in conditions that more closely represent an actual vehicle interior. While first conducted on infant seats, our Ratings now reflect testing of convertible seats under the new protocol. Research shows when a child suffers a serious injury in a crash, it’s often to their head. Contact with an interior component, such as the front seatback, is often the cause. Our testing shows that a dummy representing a 12-month-old child had head contact with a simulated front seatback in 16 of the 30 tested infant seats. But in our tests of convertible seats, the same dummy was protected from a head strike with 24 of the 25 tested convertible models. As a result, our advice is to transition your child to a rear-facing convertible seat no later than age one. Yes, you lose the convenience of using an infant seat carrier, but that is outweighed by the safety risk of a head injury.

DON’T WAIT TO BUY As your little one outgrows his infant seat, a convertible seat is the next step. These seats can be installed in both rear- and forward-facing configurations, and will likely be the seat your child sits in for the longest period of time. Although many of the infant or rearfacing-only child seats have weight 28 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

limits up to 35 pounds or more, it is more likely that your child will grow out of those seats, height-wise, before reaching those weight limits. A convertible seat is a must in order to keep your child rear-facing until the age of 2 years old, which is recommended by Consumer Reports and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

96%

of tested convertible seats protected the dummy from a head strike in our tests. In the coming years, laws in California, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania will require children to sit rearfacing until age two.

OUR NEW TEST Prior to 2014, Consumer Reports’ tests were based on government standards for child seats and included installing the seat on a ‘test bench’ that is flatter and softer than seats in current vehicles. Our new test improves on the old protocol in a few ways: ○ We changed the seat cushion the child seat is mounted to, adopting one with dimensions and firmness closer to seats in contemporary cars. ○ We raised the impact speed from 30 mph to 35 mph. That raises the crash energy by approximately 35 percent and better replicates how vehicles behave in frontal crashes.

○ We added a surface in front of the seat that simulates a front seatback. Our overall scores are based on three factors: ease-of-use, fit-to-vehicle, and crash-test performance. The first two factors carry the most weight. If a caregiver can’t connect and tighten a child restraint correctly, the child seat can’t provide optimal protection—regardless of its performance in crash-tests. Crash protection for our new test is rated as Basic, Better, and Best. Ratings are based on injury criteria from childsized dummies, whether there was direct contact of the dummy’s head with the simulated front seatback, and whether the seat remained intact during testing. A Basic rating was given to seats where injury numbers were meaningfully higher than those measured on other tested models, or that had some structural compromise. Seats rated Basic offer far better protection than no seat at all, but a seat rated Better or Best offers a greater margin of safety.

RIGHT SEAT, RIGHT TIME Waiting until Mom gets labor pains is too late to decide on a car seat. Not only will you need one for your newborn’s ride home from the hospital, but over your child’s early life you’ll also need a range of seats designed for different ages and sizes. Even seasoned parents may be fuzzy on which seat type is correct and when to move to the next one. The following pages provide a guide to various seat types, and a handy timeline for when to transition your child to the next seat. ConsumerReports.org/cars

The chest clip should always be positioned at armpit level

When in rear-facing mode, the harness should be at or below the shoulders; in forward-facing orientation, harness should be at or above the shoulders.

Important Safety Strategies

PHOTO: JOHN WALSH AND JOHN POWERS

for Making Important Transitions

3 The harness should be tightened enough so that you can’t pinch any webbing fabric between your fingers.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Your child seat must fit not only your child but also your car. If you can’t test-fit the seat before purchasing it, make sure you can return or exchange it. See SafeKids Worldwide (safekids.org) for dates and locations where you can have your seat installation checked. Here are some tips to help you get the right fit: Carefully read the manuals for both the car and the seat. Check the recline of rear-facing seats. That is critical, especially for infants. An overly upright seat may allow an infant’s head to fall forward, obstructing his breathing. Most rearfacing seats have a builtin level indicator to help you get the seat properly aligned. Child seats can be installed using your vehicle’s seat belts, but it’s often easier to get a secure fit using LATCH. Attach and tighten the top tether for all forward-facing child seats, whether they are installed with LATCH or the seat belt. You may have to remove the vehicle’s head restraint to allow a forward-facing seat to fit properly against the vehicle’s seatback. To assure that the harness is tight enough, you shouldn’t be able to pinch any fabric at the child’s shoulder.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Car-Seat Timeline: By Age and Size These estimations, based on best practices and child-seat height/weight limits, are our recommendations for the minimum number of child seats you’ll need to use until your child is ready to use just the vehicle’s seat belts.

It’s important to use the right type of seat, to ensure it remains a safe, comfortable, and convenient fit for your child. Spending more doesn’t necessarily get you the best performing seat, but it may buy you more

CONVERTIBLE SEATS

REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS $55 to $300 (for children 4 to 40 pounds)

You have plenty to haul around as a new parent, but an infant seat’s detachable carrier is a great convenience. It allows parents to easily carry the child, and most will also snap into a compatible stroller. Our tests show that infant seats also provide the best fit for the smallest babies. Though they are designed to accommodate babies that weigh up to 40 pounds, most will outgrow them heightwise first. And based on our new findings, you’ll want to move your child to a convertible seat no later than his first birthday.

features. Many midpriced models perform as well as or better than pricier ones. Seats can be reused, but they have expiration dates. And retire the seat after a crash or if it sustains any damage.

BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEATS

$40 to $450 (for children 5 to 45 pounds rear-facing, 20 to 70 pounds forward-facing)

$14 to $300 (for children 30 to 120 pounds)

You’ll need a convertible seat for two reasons: It’s recommended for kids to remain facing rearward until they reach their second birthday, and our tests show these seats offer better head protection for 12-month-old kids than infant seats. You may be tempted to use convertibles for newborns, but most don’t provide the best fit for tiny babies. The seat can be positioned facing forward once a child has reached age 2 or the rear-facing height or weight limits of the seat. Many have forward-facing limits of 65 pounds or more.

Once your child has outgrown a forwardfacing harnessed seat, he will still need a booster to allow the seat belts to sit correctly on his frame. A child usually isn’t tall enough to use the belts alone until he reaches 57 inches tall and is between 8 and 12 years old. Boosters are designed to raise the child high enough so that the vehicle’s seat belt sits correctly. High-backed boosters are a better choice because they include some side bolstering, as well as a guide that can better position the shoulder belt.

Age (Years) 1

12 PHOTOS: JOHN WALSH AND JOHN POWERS

Birth

Rear-Facing Infant Convertible Rear-Facing Convertible Forward-Facing Belt-Positioning Booster Darker areas indicate recommended use periods. Lighter areas indicate transition periods. 30 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Ratings: Best Child Seats by Type Our Ratings are based on crash protection, ease of use, and fit-to-vehicle using both LATCH and seat-belt installation (how simple it is to install). Boosters are rated for their potential to provide a proper belt fit. Rear-facing infant and convertible models were tested to our new protocol; boosters underwent our traditional tests. CR Best Buys are notable values. Similar seats are included where applicable and are separated with a slash (/). They have similar features and designs as the tested model. Chico KeyFit 30

* Note: For information on the Recaro Performance Ride’s crash performance, visit consumerreports.org/recaro. Excellent

Recommended

d Maxi-Cosi Mico

$200

Best

Mia Moda Certo

$120

Better

B. GREATER THAN 22-LB. CAPACITY

Britax Roundabout (G4) Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 5-65 Convertible Cosco Scenera/Safety 1st OnSide Air Graco Classic Ride 50/ Ready Ride Safety 1st Advance SE 65 Air+ Combi Coccoro

$145

Basic

$350

Better

$40

Basic

$100

Better

$170

Basic

X C C Z X

Clek fllo

$240

Better

$380

Better

B B Z X X X X B C V B Z V C V V Z B X C V Z Z

d Chicco KeyFit 30

$190

Best

d Combi Shuttle

$180

Better

d Cybex Aton 2

$300

Best

Evenflo Tribute

$50

Better

d Safety 1st onBoard 35 Air

$150

Best

Clek foonf

$450

Better

d UPPAbaby Mesa

$280

Better

Recaro Performance Ride* $270

d Britax B-Safe

$150

Best

c Safety 1st onBoard 35

$110

Better

$100

Best

Belt-Positioning Booster Seats BRAND & MODEL

PRICE

SCORE

c Cybex Solution X-Fix Plus

$170

Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro

$230

Peg Perego Viaggio Hbb 120

$200

Harmony Folding Travel Booster

$100

Evenflo Big Kid Amp Highback

$40

Evenflo Big Kid Sport

$30

Evenflo Big Kid DLX

$60

Evenflo Big Kid LX

$60

Graco Afix Big Kid LX

$80

Safety 1st Boost Aur Big Kid LX

$60

X C X X

Z Z Z Z X X

X X C C C C

X X X X X C

X C C C C V

X X C X X V

Convertible Seats (New test protocol) TEST RESULTS

$265

82 81

Best Better

A. HIGHBACK

Forward LATCH Forward Belt

Rear Belt

Britax Marathon

d ClickTight

$300

Fit-to-Vehicle Rear LATCH

Rec.

d Chicco NextFit

Ease of Use

PRICE SCORE Crash Protection

BRAND & MODEL

c Titan 65

Evenflo SureRide/

$100

Best

c Cosco Scenera NEXT

$45

Better

c Graco Contender 65

$140

Better

Best

Graco Size4Me 65/Head d Wise 65 c Graco My Ride 65 Safety 1st Guide 65/ Guide 65 Sport/Eddie Bauer XRS65 Britax Boulevard (G4)/ Marathon (G4) Safety 1st Chart Air 65 Safety 1st Complete Air 65 Maxi-Cosi Pria 70/ Pria 85 Evenflo Triumph 65

ConsumerReports.org/cars

$180 $110

71 70

Better

TEST RESULTS

X X C V

Rec.

Graco SnugRide 30

Ease of Use

Forward LATCH Forward Belt

Best

Fit-to-Vehicle Rear Belt

A. 22-LB. CAPACITY

TEST RESULTS

Crash Protection/ Belt Fit Backless

$180

PRICE SCORE

Rear LATCH

d Chicco KeyFit

Rec.

Belt

BRAND & MODEL

Fit-to-Vehicle

c (Classic Connect)

Poor

Convertible Seats (continued)

TEST RESULTS LATCH

SCORE

Ease of Use

PRICE

Crash Protection

BRAND & MODEL

Fair

Crash Protection/ Belt Fit Highback

Rear-Facing Infant Seats (New test protocol)

Good

Very Good

Ease of Use

Crash Protection

CR Best Buy

Rec.

NA NA

B. HIGHBACK-TO-BACKLESS c c d d

$95

Better

B Z X

C. BACKLESS

$265

Basic

c Harmony Youth Booster Seat

$130

Best

$160

Best

B B Z X

$13

Evenflo Big Kid Amp

$25

BubbleBum Booster Seat

$30

Cosco Ambassador

$15

$100

$17

$200

Better

Clek Olli

$130

Best

Cosco Top Side

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Get the Most for Your Trade-In Easy steps to maximize its appeal.

iguring out the best way to sell your current vehicle might pale in comparison to the emotional swirl of getting a new ride, but be careful. You could get a great deal on your new car, yet lose all the savings—and more—on your old one. While you typically get the most money by selling the car yourself, trading it in is such a low-hassle option that many people think the convenience is worth it, even if they get less money. You can apply the trade-in amount to your down payment, reducing how much you have to finance. There can be tax advantages, too. Most states require that sales tax be paid only on the difference between the price of your trade-in and the vehicle you are buying, not the full price of the car you buy. Still, the best you can hope for when trading in is getting the wholesale price, which is significantly less than what you could get if you sold it yourself. Even if you know what your vehicle is worth, you’ll have to haggle with a salesperson to get the best deal. And if the dealer already has six versions of your used car on the lot, he or she isn’t likely to pay top dollar for another. And if your trade-in isn’t one the dealer wants, it will probably be sent to auction and discounted accordingly. Just remember, no matter how tired you may be of your current vehicle, a dealership isn’t doing you a favor by taking it off your hands—it’s because there’s an inviting profit for them at the end of the transaction.

32 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Negotiating the trade-in

Clean the interior

YOU’LL GET THE BEST DEAL by keeping the purchase and trade-in negotiations separate. Combining the two allows salespeople to manipulate the deals so that a good price in one area could be canceled out by a poor price in another. First, nail down the price of the car you want to purchase, then discuss your trade-in. Since dealers often make more money reselling your car than they do on a new-car deal, they have more flexibility with a trade-in offer. Be sure to read and understand any sales contract before you sign it. If you have a problem with any terms or conditions, ask questions. You have little recourse after you sign.

FIRST, REMOVE personal clutter: empty the glove box and storage bins, wash the cup holders, and check under the seats for lost toys, trash, and wayward french fries. You can buy special cleaners for upholstery, carpet, and leather. For hard plastic, use any generalpurpose cleaner. Use a good glass cleaner to remove smudges and film from the inside of all windows, paying special attention to the windshield and rear window. Replace any severely worn floor mats. Ridding cars of odors can be a challenge. First, clean the interior fabrics with pet/spot cleaner or another odor-fighting product. Don’t forget to wipe down the overhead fabric. Be sure to clean inside the trunk and spare-tire well. To remove stale odors from the ventilation ducts, spray odor eliminator into the system’s air intake, usually located at the base of the windshield. Then run the A/C for at least 10 minutes.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

ILLUSTRATION: SERGE BLOCH

Spiff it up MAKING YOUR VEHICLE look as good as possible can improve its value and sales appeal. Depending on its condition, you can do the work yourself or enlist a professional detailer. Prices generally start around $100, and they can rapidly increase depending on the region, type of vehicle, and amount of work needed. Detailing sometimes means little more than an extra-good job of polishing the body and cleaning the inside, plus removing every smudge and scrap of grime. But preparing the car for sale may involve body work, paint touch-ups, and heavy-duty buffing. As with all do-it-yourself projects, the more elbow grease you invest, the less you’ll pay someone else. Here’s how to get the best results from your efforts: Give your vehicle a thorough car wash. Scrub the wheels with a stiffbristled brush and a good detergent or cleaner that is safe for all wheel types. Once everything is dry, apply a tire dressing for a new-car look. ConsumerReports.org/cars

If the paint is in good condition, you may only need a coat of wax. Use one marked “safe for clearcoats.” Avoid abrasive products meant for paint removal or to shine a dull finish. If your paint finish is a little dull, look for a product that both polishes and protects. Based on our tests, we favor liquid waxes for the best cleaning results. You can fix small scratches and chips yourself with touch-up paint, available at your dealership. Make sure you get an exact color match or your repair job will look worse than the scratch. Fine surface abrasions or scratches in the paint can be professionally buffed out at a body shop or car-wash center. This will improve the car’s overall appearance, but will cost between $100 and $200. You can do it yourself using an appropriate polish and microfiber cloths, but if you’ve never used a power rotary buffer, now isn’t the time to learn. You can easily burn through the paint or leave permanent swirl marks.

Clean the engine

Fix any glass defects

CLEANING THE COMPONENTS under the hood can be a chore, and, on a trade-in, offer a low return on your time investment. If battery terminals are corroded or caked with white powder, clean off the residue with an old toothbrush dipped in a mixture of water and baking soda. Then coat the terminals with battery terminal grease. (Always wear eye protection and gloves when working around car batteries.) You can certainly clean engine parts with old rags and plain soap and water, though you may have better luck with an aerosol engine degreaser. Be careful not to get electrical connections wet.

IT’S VERY COMMON for a windshield to pick up damage from a flying stone. An auto-glass repair service can repair these so they are less noticeable and don’t develop into larger cracks. For larger cracks, you’ll have to replace the entire windshield. But check your autoinsurance policy first. If you have glass coverage, the replacement will be free except for a possible deductible.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Ratings & 2016-17 Reference Models

Mazda CX-3

34 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Subaru Legacy

36 52

Vehicle Ratings

Vehicle Profiles

180 186 192 197 ConsumerReports.org/cars

See how vehicles compare in overall score, roadtest score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and fuel economy.

Guide to Vehicle Profiles A handy reference on how to use the six sections that comprise the Vehicle Profiles.

Unbiased reviews of 252 models, along with quick-reference Report Cards and detailed reliability histories for most models.

Road-Test Highlights Turn here for test data on performance, fuel economy, and more.

Crash-Test Results Compare models’ independent crash-test and rollover results, and availability of frontal-crash prevention features.

Vehicle Dimensions Compare exterior and interior dimensions and cargo, payload, and towing capacities.

Tire Ratings In-depth buying advice and test results on all-season, summer, and truck tires.

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

R AT I N G S & R E F E R E N C E

Vehicle Ratings Maybe you’ve already narrowed down your new-car shopping list to a few models and want to see how they stack up in different areas. Or perhaps you’re diving headfirst into the ocean of choices and want to compare sedans, SUVs, wagons, and more. No matter where you are in the buying process, this section will help you decide.

BMW i3

36 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Standout Models by Category SEDANS Subcompacts and Compacts $14,000-$30,000 PROS Y #<NT OJ K<MF H<I@PQ@M Y $P@G @>JIJHT Y .M<>OD><G K<MOD>PG<MGT hatchback models Y 1K<>@ AJM AJPM <?PGON Y AAJM?<=G@

CONS Y 2@I? OJ =@ IJDNT ; Many have done poorly in IIHS narrow-offset crash test Y 2TKD><GGT NGJR Y 0D?@ DN PNP<GGT EDOO@MT

SUBCOMPACT CARS Honda Fit Toyota Yaris iA Nissan Versa Note

Fuel-efficient sedans/hatchbacks Mazda3 Honda Civic Toyota Corolla Toyota Prius › Toyota Corolla iM Ford C-Max Chevrolet Volt ›

COMPACT CARS Best overall Kia Forte Mazda3

Midsized: $22,000-$33,000 PROS Y !JHAJMO<=G@ MD?@ Y *JR IJDN@ Y 0JJHT DIO@MDJM accommodations Y =PI?<IO KJR@M Y 1K<>@ AJM ADQ@ K@JKG@

CONS Y 1JH@ C<Q@ complicated controls Y 0@NOMD>O@? QDND=DGDOT in some Y *DHDO@? ><MBJ flexibility

Best overall Subaru Legacy Honda Accord Toyota Camry Kia Optima

Best fuel economy Toyota Camry Hybrid Ford Fusion Hybrid › Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Mazda6 Honda Accord (4-cyl.)

Large: $35,000-$40,000 PROS Y 'IO@MDJM NK<>@ Y /PD@O ><=DI Y !JHKJN@? MD?@ Y *<MB@ OMPIF

CONS Y &<M?@M OJ K<MF Y 1J NJ AP@G @>JIJHT

For commuting, running errands, and zipping around town, a small car is often the most practical choice. Most compact cars today have the rear seat space once found in a midsized car. Subcompacts usually have room for just two passengers in the back. This category runs from rudimentary economy models to premium cars. Thrifty models

tend to get good fuel economy. But their elevated noise levels can leave your ears ringing even after short drives, and they have limited space for rear passengers and cargo. They usually have small four-cylinder engines, with fuel economy averaging from the high-20s to mid-30s mpg overall. Some models use turbocharging for more power.

Midsized sedans provide the best balance of performance, fuel economy, comfort, practicality, and affordability. Typically, base models have a four-cylinder engine underhood, while higher trims come with a stronger engine, either a V6 or turbocharged four.

It’s common for a fully-loaded mainstream sedan to approach luxury levels of features, which accounts for the large price spread between base and high-trim versions. While all sedans are capable of seating five passengers, the center rear perch is often no place for an adult to spend much time. Most have rear seatbacks that fold down to expand cargo room, but check in advance to see if the space fits your needs.

If you want extra stretch-out room, especially to accommodate rear-seat passengers, a large sedan capably fits the bill. These cars emphasize comfort rather than sharp handling. Fuel economy is usually so-so, with 22 mpg overall typical for the class.

Large sedans usually come loaded with features. They have plushly appointed cabins and abundant storage space. A cavernous, luggage-swallowing trunk is almost always a given, but many big cars don’t offer fold-down rear seatbacks.

Best overall Chevrolet Impala › Toyota Avalon

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

R AT I N G S & R E F E R E N C E

Luxury-branded cars promise more of everything than mainstream brands do: Compact: $35,000-$45,000 comfort, quietness, power accessories, safety Midsized: $40,000-$60,000 gear, and panache. All of which comes Large: $70,000-$95,000 wrapped in richer, more-supple interior materials. PROS CONS Engine choices range from small turbo Y $P@G @>JIJHT Y !JHAJMO Y #SK@INDQ@ OJ H<DIO<DI four-cylinders up to, and sometimes beyond, Y /PD@OI@NN when warranty ends Y .JR@M powerful V8s. Smaller versions have Y !JIOMJGN ><I =@ Y &<I?GDIB impressive fuel economy, but mileage tends to

LUXURY SEDANS

complex and distracting Y 2DBCO M@<M N@<ON DI some models

Y $DO <I? ADIDNC Y ?Q<I>@? N<A@OT systems COMPACT Great value Buick Regal › Sporty BMW 328i Audi A3

go down as you move up in size. Many require premium fuel to boot. But there are some hybrids, electrics, and diesels on the market. One common gripe is these models often have a complicated control setup for the infotainment and associated in-car electronics. Those systems can be a chore to learn, a continuing distraction even when mastered, and prone to reliability problems.

Great value Lexus ES 350 Lincoln MKZ 2.0 EcoBoost Fuel-efficient BMW 328d xDrive Lexus ES 300h Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

MIDSIZED LARGE Audi A6 (3.0T) BMW 750i xDrive Infiniti Q70 (V6) Lexus LS 460L Genesis G80 (3.8 AWD) Cadillac CTS

SPORTS CARS $30,000-$50,000+ PROS Y $<NO Y $PI Y BDG@ Y 1OTGDNC

CONS Y 'HKM<>OD><G Y !M<HK@? Y ,JDNT Y #SK@INDQ@ OJ DINPM@

SPORTS CARS BMW M240i › Porsche 911

FUN HATCHBACKS Volkswagen GTI Mini Cooper S Toyota 86 Subaru BRZ

ROADSTERS Mazda MX-5 Miata

WAGONS & MINIVANS Minivans: $35,000-$40,000 Wagons: $25,000-$40,000 PROS Y 1@Q@I JM @DBCO N@<ON Y =PI?<IO GPBB<B@ JM cargo space Y !JHKJN@? MD?@ Y /PD@OI@NN

CONS Y +@?DJ>M@ AP@G economy Y $@R HDIDQ<IN JAA@M all-wheel drive

We have yet to come across a definition for “sports car” that everyone can agree on. The classic design is a compact, rear-wheel-drive, open-top roadster or fixed-roof coupe, but some four-door sedans undoubtedly qualify. So

do some front- and all-wheel-drive cars, as do big American-style muscle cars. The best of the breed allow enthusiast drivers to demonstrate their driving skill to the utmost. Other contenders merely look the part.

Minivans get a bad rap. Widely scorned as trite emblems of boring suburbia, minivans are actually a better bet than an SUV on several grounds. With comfortable seating wwfor five, and room for seven or eight in a pinch, minivans are not only great for hauling a passel of kids but also unbeatable at schlepping mountains of cargo.

The better vans are also quiet, comfortable, and reasonably agile. Only one, the Toyota Sienna, currently offers all-wheel drive. Wagons are a small niche market these days, but they can be an excellent alternative for people who want the handiness of a small-tomedium sized SUV without the high step-up and bulkiness most SUVs bring with them.

WAGONS All-wheel drive Subaru Outback › MINIVANS Honda Odyssey › Toyota Sienna

38 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

SUVs The SUV is the de facto all-American car, thanks to its versatility, passenger space, available all-wheel drive, and ever-growing list of convenience and safety features. The best compact and small SUVs do all of this while handling well and returning fairly good, if not stellar, fuel economy. Many are kid-friendly, meaning they are easy to get in or out from and have plenty of storage nooks.

Compact/Small: $20,000-$35,000 PROS Y 4@MN<ODGDOT Y #<NT OJ K<MF Y BDGDOT Y $P@G @>JIJHT SMALL Subaru Forester Toyota RAV4 ˇ Volkswagen Tiguan Nissan Rogue Mazda CX-5 (2.5) Honda CR-V

CONS Y ,JDNT Y 1ODAA MD?@ Y 2DBCO N@>JI? MJR accomodations Fuel-Efficient Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Mazda CX-3 Honda HR-V

Moving up to a midsized or large SUV brings more room, third-row seats, large cargo areas, and strong engines. But fuel economy suffers and the largest, strongest models can quickly get expensive. If you often carry seven or eight and don’t have to tow, a minivan can be a better choice. Luxury SUVs double-down on the comforts and features to appeal to buyers who want a

Midsized: $30,000-$40,000 CONS Y &DBC N@GGDIB KMD>@ Y +@?DJ>M@ AP@G economy Y &<I?GDIB ><I be clumsy

MIDSIZED Three row Toyota Highlander › Kia Sorento Honda Pilot

Fuel-Efficient Toyota Highlander Hybrid LARGE Family-Friendly Chevrolet Traverse Ford Flex › To tow and haul Dodge Durango

Ford Edge

Luxury compact: $35,000-$45,000 PROS Y .GPNC <I? LPD@O Y BDG@ Y /PD>F Y ?Q<I>@? N<A@OT features

CONS Y 0D?@ Y 2DBCO M@<M N@<O Y !JHKGD><O@? >JIOMJGN Y &DBC KMD>@

COMPACT Acura RDX BMW X3 Lexus NX Audi Q3 ˇ Audi Q5 2.0T

Large: $40,000-$60,000

PROS Y %JJ? DIO@MDJM and cargo space Y HKG@ KJR@M Y !JHKJN@? MD?@ Y !<=DI LPD@OI@NN Y 2CDM? MJR N@<O in some

If two rows will do Nissan Murano

more posh driving experience. Small models are more AWD wagon than off-road ready truck, and most have snug rear seats and stingy cargo space. Midsized and large SUVs add in more and better creature comforts, and high-tech infotainment and safety gear. Fuel economy isn’t often a high point, and the largest models can be a bit ungainly.

Luxury midsized: $45,000-$55,000 Luxury large: $60,000-$80,000 PROS Y .GPNC <>>JHHJ?<ODJIN Y %@I@MJPN DIO@MDJM NK<>@ Y !POODIB @?B@ O@>CIJGJBT Y !<=DI LPD@OI@NN MIDSIZED Three row Acura MDX Audi Q7 › Two row Lexus RX Lincoln MKX Mercedes-Benz GLE350 Sporty Porsche Cayenne

CONS Y 1J NJ AP@G @>JIJHT Y 1KJOOT M@GD<=DGDOT Y !JNOGT JKODJIN K<>F<B@N Y #SK@INDQ@ OJ H<DIO<DI

LARGE Buick Enclave

PICKUP TRUCKS Modern pickups can be as full-featured and as quiet inside as luxury cars, and the popular full-sized (half-ton) pickups can cost as much as one. Endless permutations of cab, bed, and engine choices make them infinitely adaptable for both work-related and family-car needs. PROS Y 3I=@<O<=G@ C<PGDIB and towing capacities Y 4@MN<ODGDOT

ConsumerReports.org/cars

FULL-SIZED PICKUPS CONS Ford F-150 › Y $P@G OCDMNOT Y PGFT NDU@ Y #SKJN@? ><MBJ <M@< Y &DBC >JNO CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

V E H I C L E R AT I N G S

Kia Optima

Key to the Ratings The vehicles are divided by category and ranked according to their overall scores. Some models are included in multiple categories, as appropriate. Sometimes we also include vehicles that are viable alter-natives to those in a specific category. Recommended vehicles. These are vehicles that meet CONSUMER REPORTS’ stringent testing, reliability, and safety standards.

To earn our Recommendation, noted with d, vehicles must perform well in our testing; have average or better reliability; and perform adequately if included in a government or industry safety test. In addition, pickups and SUVs must not have tipped up in the government’s rollover test, if evaluated. Models with subpar crash-test results are identified by (!).

Guide to the Charts The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has strengthened its crash-test requirements by adding a new narrow-offset frontal crash test. This has resulted in some models that performed poorly in the test losing their CR recommendation. Turn to the Safety charts (page 186) for more information. > Price as tested is the sticker price at the time of purchase of our test vehicle, including an automatic transmission (unless otherwise noted) and typical equipment. > Overall score accounts for a vehicle’s performance in our road tests, results from our reliability and owner satisfaction surveys, the availability of a frontal crash-prevention system, and, if applicable, crash tests by government and insurance-industry test facilities. > Survey results include predicted reliability, our forecast of how well a new car will hold up based on its recent history

from our 2015 Annual Auto Survey. The survey includes owner satisfaction, which is based on the percentage of subscribers who say they would definitely buy or lease their vehicle again. Reliability and owner satisfaction predictions for new or redesigned models are based on other models from the manufacturer and the history of the previous generation. A model that is based on limited data for either category is identified with an asterisk (*). > Overall MPG is the overall miles per gallon a vehicle achieved based on results from fuel-economy tests, reflecting a mix of city and highway driving. > Road-test score is based on results from more than 50 tests and evaluations. > Highs and lows give a quick summary of a model’s notable strengths and weaknesses.

Why Some Vehicles Are Not in the Ratings These models have been redesigned or extensively freshened since our last test, and are scheduled to be included in future road tests: Audi A4 and Allroad; Buick LaCrosse; GMC Acadia; Jaguar XF; Kia Cadenza and Sportage; Lincoln MKT; Mazda CX-9; Mercedes-Benz E-Class and SLC; Nissan Armada and Titan xD; and the Porsche 718 Boxster and Panamera. For updates, check a future issue of Consumer Reports Cars or ConsumerReports.org. 40 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Honda Fit

Ford C-Max

Ratings

d Chevrolet Volt LT

$35,890

105 1/38 2

d Ford C-Max Energi

$34,940

94 1/37 2

BMW i3 Giga

$50,450

139 1

Nissan Leaf S

$29,860

106 1

Ford Focus Electric

$40,990

107 1

Mitsubishi i-MiEV SE

$33,630

111 1

d Honda Fit EX

$19,025

d Nissan Versa Note SV

$17,495

d Chevrolet Sonic LT (1.8L)

$17,290

d Toyota Yaris (Scion) iA

$17,570

Hyundai Accent Sport (hatchback, MT)

$16,695

Toyota Prius C Two

$20,850

Hyundai Accent SE

$16,050

Chevrolet Sonic LTZ (hatchback, 1.4T, MT)

$19,870

Toyota Yaris LE

$17,290

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

d Recommended

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

Better

Worse

LOWS

ELECTRIC CARS/PLUG-IN HYBRIDS

Can be electric without range anxiety, Visibility, tight rear-seat, front-seat ride, quietness, controls. comfort, driving position, access. Fuel economy, ride, handling, quietGrabby brakes, battery robs cargo ness, access, maximizes electric mode. area, expensive to get rear camera. Energy efficiency, acceleration, Reliability, long trips require frequent fillagility, reduced range anxiety with ups, seats only four, rear-seat access, optional gasoline engine. cargo space, stingy instrumentation. Running costs, ride, instant Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test power delivery, quietness, access, results, limited range, high-pitched turning circle. whine, no telescoping wheel, agility. Reliability, touchy throttle and brake Fun to drive, handling, ride, instant pedal, battery takes up trunk space, power delivery, quietness. rear seat, limited range. Short range, weak heat, acceleration, Low energy consumption, parking ride, agility, driving position, Spartan ease, turning circle. interior, complicated radio.

CARS: SUBCOMPACT

Kia Rio EX

$17,275

Kia Rio EX (hatchback)

$17,475

Nissan Versa SV (sedan)

$15,490

Chevrolet Spark 1LT

$16,660

Ford Fiesta SES (hatchback, MT)

$17,795

Miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe). 2 Miles-per-gallon when running on gas.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Fuel economy, interior room, versatility, Ride, noise, confusing uplevel audio handling, access, standard rear camera. system. Space, access, versatility, fuel Driving position, unsupportive front economy, controls, reliability. seats, acceleration. Braking, trunk, quick and quiet for Fuel economy, darty steering, narrow class, IIHS crash-test results. driving position, seat comfort. Fuel economy, agility, standard front- Noise levels, infotainment learning collision mitigation, IIHS test results. curve, tight rear seat, wet braking. Fuel economy, secure handling, Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test controls, long warranty. results, ride, noise, rear visibility. Fuel economy, smooth transmission, Acceleration, ride, noise, driving turning circle, relatively roomy rear position, rear visibility, fit and finish. seat for two, reliability. Fuel economy, transmission, secure Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test handling, controls, long warranty. results, ride, noise. So-so fuel economy, manual gear Braking, quick and quiet for class, ratios and shifter, narrow driving IIHS crash-test results. position, seat comfort, rear visibility. Noise, ride, driving position, Fuel economy, roomy rear seat, front-seat comfort, fit and finish, turning circle. radio controls, rear visibility. Transmission, controls, equipment levels. Reliability, ride, noise. Transmission, controls, equipment Reliability, ride, noise, rear visibility, levels. fuel economy for class. Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test Fuel economy, rear seat, trunk. results, handling, engine noise, front-seat comfort, fit and finish. Acceleration, ride, noise, seat comfort, Easy to park, braking, fuel economy. driving position. Handling, ride, noise, fuel economy, Reliability, acceleration, rear seat, turning circle. some controls, rear visibility.

! Caution, subpar crash-test results. * Based on limited data.**Powertrain has changed since last test. CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

V E H I C L E R AT I N G S

Ford Fiesta SE (3-cyl., MT) $18,720

Ford Fiesta SE

$16,595

Smart ForTwo Passion

$18,730

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

$16,050

$27,400

Hyundai Veloster (base,

$20,340

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

LOWS

CARS: SUBCOMPACT continued Handling, braking, ride, noise, fuel economy, turning circle. Handling, ride, noise, fuel economy, turning circle. Easy parking, access, turning circle, fuel economy. Fuel economy, turning circle, relatively roomy rear seat, hatchback versatility, feature content.

Reliability, some controls, rear seat, rear visibility, narrow power band, relatively expensive. Reliability, acceleration, braking, rear seat, some controls. Ride, noise, acceleration, requires premium fuel. Handling, noise, vibration, acceleration, feels cheap and insubstantial.

CARS: SMALL 2-DOOR d Mini Cooper (base, AT) d MT)

Honda CR-Z EX (MT)

$22,810

Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T (AT)

$22,485

Fiat 500C Pop (MT)

$21,000

Fiat 500 Sport (MT)

$18,600

Rear seat, some controls, expensive rear camera, gets pricey, 3-cylinder engine a bit gruff, premium fuel. Handling, fuel economy, extra door, Ride, noise, lacks low-end torque, rear turning circle, long warranty. visibility, rear seat. Fuel economy, shifter, turning circle, Only two seats, noise, ride, visibility, cargo flexibility. access, AC shut-off at stop. Reliability, wind noise, on-limit hanCuteness, nostalgia, controls. dling, rear seat, no curtain air bags. Reliability, acceleration, ride, Fuel economy, agility, shifter, front driving position, front-seat comfort, access, clever top design. rear visibility, trunk. Reliability, poor IIHS small overlap Handling, shifter, fuel economy, front crash-test results, acceleration, ride, access. noise, seats, driving position, controls. Handling, fuel economy, thick option list allows personalization.

HATCHBACKS/WAGONS: COMPACT d Toyota Prius Three

$27,323

d Toyota Prius V Three

$28,217

d (hatchback, 2.0L, MT)

$24,040

d Kia Soul Plus

$24,115

d Ford C-Max Hybrid SE

$26,685

d Toyota Corolla (Scion) iM

$19,995

Volkswagen Golf SE (1.8T) $25,315

Mini Clubman Base (1.5T)

$31,550

Fiat 500L Easy**

$24,595

d Mazda3 i Touring (2.0L)

$21,740

d Honda Civic LX

$20,275

d Honda Civic EX-T

$23,035

d Toyota Corolla LE Plus

$20,652

d Kia Forte LX (1.8L)

$19,570

Volkswagen Jetta SE

$21,235

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

$31,940

Mazda3 i Grand Touring

Fuel economy, hatchback versatility, ride, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, transmission, rear seat, access, cargo room, ride, reliability, IIHS crash-test results. Handling, fuel economy, transmission, high-end options, IIHS test results. Handy size, inexpensive upscale features, access, controls, braking, IIHS test results. Fuel economy, ride, handling, quietness, access, utility. Agility, fuel economy, hatchback versatility, well-equipped for price. Ride, handling, quietness, braking, easy infotainment system, hatchback versatility, IIHS crash-test results. Handling, roomier than any other Mini. Roomy interior, handy size, access.

Rear visibility, acceleration, seat comfort, insubstantial for price, odd shifter and gauges. Acceleration, agility, engine noise, complicated radio. Ride, noise, rear seat, visibility, relatively pricey. Stiff ride, limited cargo room with rear seat up. Some controls, grabby brakes, small cargo area, expensive to get rear camera. Acceleration, engine noise, rear seat, rear visibility, lacks common options. Reliability, noisy rear view camera, a bit pricey. Ride, noise, visibility, controls have a learning curve. Reliability, poor IIHS small overlap crash-test results, stiff ride, touchy brake pedal, front seats, driving position.

SEDANS: COMPACT

d (1.4T)

d SEL Premium

42 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Handling, fuel economy, transmission, Ride, noise, rear seat. high-end options, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, ride, handling, interior Awkward access, front seat comfort. storage, IIHS crash-test results. Awkward access, front-seat comfort, Fuel economy, ride, handling, interior complicated infotainment for EX and storage, IIHS crash-test results. higher trims. Ride, fuel economy, interior space, Lackluster handling, inconsistent inlarge trunk, secure emergency hanterior quality, too easy to turn off dling, reliability, value. daytime running lights. Ride, braking, controls, relatively Agility, low rear seat. roomy rear seat. Agility, acceleration, refined engine, fuel economy, rear seat, large trunk, Ride, lackluster interior finish. visibility, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, quietness, ride, transmis- Touchy brake pedal, small trunk, can sion, rear seat, IIHS crash-test results. roll back on hills, premium fuel. ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mini Cooper

Mazda3 d Recommended

Road Test Score

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS

Owner Satisfaction

Recommended

SURVEY RESULTS Predicted Reliability

PRICE As tested

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

Better

Worse

LOWS

SEDANS: COMPACT continued Volkswagen Jetta Sport

d (1.8T)

$22,610

Chevrolet Cruze LT

$23,145

66 66

C* C*

$20,090

V* C*

Hyundai Elantra SE

Mitsubishi Lancer ES

$17,515

Dodge Dart SXT (2.4L)

$22,025

Ford Focus SE (2.0L)

$20,485

Nissan Sentra SV

$20,570

Ford Focus SE (1.0T)

$21,455

d Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE $29,052

d Toyota Camry XLE (V6)

$32,603

d mium

Subaru Legacy 2.5i Pre-

$24,837

d Toyota Camry LE (4-cyl.)

$24,089

d Honda Accord LX (4-cyl.)

$23,270

d Honda Accord EX-L (V6)

$30,860

d Kia Optima EX (2.4L)

$25,860

d Mazda6 Sport

$23,590

d SE

$26,950

d Ford Fusion SE (1.5T)

$27,720

d Hyundai Sonata SE (2.4L)

$23,315

d Ford Fusion SE Hybrid

$28,290

Agility, acceleration, refined engine, fuel economy, rear seat, large trunk, Ride, lackluster interior finish. controls, visibility, IIHS test results. Ride, quietness, among roomiest in class. Front seat support, rear visibility. Relatively roomy, easy controls, fuel Engine noise, ride, front-seat comfort. economy. Noise, fit and finish, braking, fuel Agility, steering, controls. economy. Handling, braking, easy to use Reliability, engine clatter at idle, seat Uconnect screen. comfort, fit and finish. Reliability, Snug interior, transmission Agility, ride, quietness. causes low-speed vibration. Braking, spacious rear seat, access, Reliability, ride, noise, fit and finish, lots of features for the money, IIHS front-seat comfort. crash-test results. Reliability, Snug interior, slow Agility, ride, quietness. acceleration without any fuel-economy benefit.

CARS: MIDSIZED

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe). 2 Miles-per-gallon when running on gas.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Fuel economy, ride, powertrain, interior room, IIHS crash-test results, reliability. Ride, fuel economy, powertrain, acceleration, interior room, IIHS test results, reliability. Ride, handling, braking, transmission, fuel economy, visibility, controls, standard AWD, IIHS crash-test results. Ride, powertrain, fuel economy, interior room, IIHS test results, reliability. Fuel economy, powertrain, handling, roomy interior, visibility, driving position, controls, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, powertrain, handling, roomy interior, visibility, driving position, IIHS crash-test results. Roomy interior, seat comfort, controls, braking, fuel economy, lots of equipment for price. Fuel economy, agility, transmission, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, ride, spacious interior, rear seat, controls, long warranty, IIHS crash-test results. Agility, ride, quietness, fun to drive, braking. Spacious rear seat, ride, transmission, controls, fuel economy, long warranty, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, agility, ride, quietness, fun to drive, powertrain.

Too easy to turn off the daytime running lights. Too easy to turn off the daytime running lights. Hard to read clock and temperature, acceleration, touchy throttle. Too easy to turn off the daytime running lights. Complicated optional radio, ride a bit choppy. Complicated optional radio, ride a bit choppy. Expensive to get active safety equipment, too easy to turn off DRL, low dash vents. Noise, ride, snug interior, low dash vents, Sport trim lacks power seat. Low tire grip hurts cornering and braking, too easy to turn off daytime running lights. Fuel economy, visibility, slightly snug cabin, small trunk opening. Low tire grip hurts cornering and braking, too easy to turn off daytime running lights. Visibility, touchy brakes, slightly snug cabin, small trunk opening.

! Caution, subpar crash-test results. * Based on limited data.**Powertrain has changed since last test. CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

V E H I C L E R AT I N G S

Toyota Avalon

HIGHS

LOWS

Volkswagen Passat SE

$27,485

d (1.5T)

Chevrolet Malibu 1LT

$26,790

Ford Fusion Titanium d (2.0T) Volkswagen Passat SEL d Premium (V6)

$33,180

$33,720

Nissan Altima 3.5 SL

$31,610

Nissan Altima 2.5 SV

$26,890

Chrysler 200 C (V6)

$33,620

Chrysler 200 Limited (4-cyl.)

$25,790

Chevrolet Impala 2LTZ

$39,110

Toyota Avalon Limited

$42,010

Chevrolet SS

$47,170

Nissan Maxima Platinum

$41,995

Ford Taurus Limited (3.5, V6) Dodge Charger R/T Plus (V8)

$37,885

$40,375

Dodge Charger SXT (V6)

$34,510

Chrysler 300 C (V8)

$45,650

Chrysler 300 Limited (V6) $38,335

Agility, ride, fit and finish.

Visibility, access, tight rear seat. Rear seat, some controls, pricey for size, tepid power off the line, headlights. Front-seat comfort, tight rear-seat, narrow driving position. Ride, noise, acceleration, snug interior, rear visibility, cargo space.

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

BMW 750i

OVERALL SCORE

CARS: MIDSIZED continued d (1.8T)

Interior room, rear seat, trunk, access, Transmission refinement at low agility, braking, fuel economy, IIHS speeds. crash-test results. Ride, quietness, controls, fuel Raspy 1.5-liter turbo, front seat economy. comfort, so-so visibility. Agility, ride, quietness, fun to drive, Fuel economy, visibility, slightly snug braking. cabin, small trunk opening. Ride, handling, acceleration, interior Fuel economy, premium fuel, slow room, rear seat, access, IIHS test results. touch-screen controls. Acceleration, rear seat, controls, Reliability, agility, ride. IIHS crash-test results. Rear seat, controls, fuel economy, Reliability, unsettled ride, overly light IIHS crash-test results. steering. Powerful V6, controls, IIHS Reliability, agility, access, rear-seat crash-test results. head room, visibility. Reliability, transmission, ride, touchy Fuel economy, controls, IIHS brakes, agility, access, rear-seat head crash-test results. room, visibility.

CARS: LARGE d (3.6) d (V6)

Ride, handling, braking, quietness, spacious cabin and trunk, advanced Rear visibility. electronic safety features. Ride, quietness, acceleration, fuel Agility, too easy to turn daytime economy, rear seat running lights off Acceleration, handling, braking, Fuel-thirsty, no exterior trunk release, exhaust note, interior room, controls, summer tires are unusable in snow. feature content. Ride, steering, engine noise, Acceleration, fuel economy, controls, access, snug driving position, fit and finish, IIHS crash-test results. visibility, rear-seat room. Quietness, trunk space. V8 sound and power, transmission, easy-to-use infotainment system. Transmission, quietness, ride, interior room, feature content. Acceleration, transmission, ride, quietness, seat comfort, fit and finish. Acceleration, transmission, ride, quietness, seat comfort, fit and finish.

Visibility, driving position. Reliability, visibility, access. Reliability, visibility, access. Reliability. Reliability, headlights.

CARS: LUXURY ENTRY-LEVEL Volkswagen CC Sport

d (2.0T)

$32,800 $31,495

Handling, feels solid, braking, IIHS crash-test results.

d (2.4)

$27,750

Quietness, transmission, braking.

d Lexus CT 200h Premium

$32,012

$27,740

d Audi A3 Premium Buick Verano Leather

Volkswagen Jetta GLI

d SE (MT)

Acura ILX Premium

$30,820

Mercedes-Benz CLA250

$36,500

44 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Fuel economy, secure handling, reliability. Handling, powertrain, rear seat, large trunk, IIHS crash-test results.

Long clutch travel.

Stiff ride, loud cabin, access, controls, Fuel economy. overpriced for what you get. Reliability, ride, noise, cramped Braking, fuel economy, fit and finish. interior, uneven power delivery, visibility, access, small trunk opening.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

d Recommended

Road Test Score

Overall MPG

OVERALL SCORE

TEST RESULTS

Owner Satisfaction

Recommended

SURVEY RESULTS Predicted Reliability

PRICE As tested

MAKE & MODEL

HIGHS

Better

Worse

LOWS

CARS: LUXURY COMPACT d Buick Regal Premium I

$34,485

d BMW 328d xDrive

$50,475

d Volvo S60 T5 Drive-E

$39,925

d BMW 328i**

$43,195

Mercedes-Benz C300 (4MATIC)

$47,560

Lexus IS300 (AWD)

$48,149

Cadillac ATS Luxury (turbo)

$43,295

Infiniti Q50 Premium (AWD)**

$44,855

Acura TLX 2.4L

$35,920

Acura TLX SH-AWD

$42,345

d Quattro

$56,295

d Infiniti Q70 (V6)

$53,825

d Lexus GS 350**

$58,858

d Lexus ES 350

$43,702

d Lexus ES 300h

$44,017

d Infiniti Q70 Hybrid

$58,655

d Genesis G80 3.8 (AWD)

$52,450

d 2.0 EcoBoost**

$41,365

d Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

$41,915

Cadillac CTS Luxury d (V6, AWD)

$58,780

BMW 535i

$58,375

Cadillac XTS Premium

$57,200

Acura RLX Tech

$55,345

d BMW 750i xDrive

$110,645

d Lexus LS 460L

$82,504

d Audi A8 L**

$91,275

Acceleration, ride, handling, braking, controls. Handling, ride, fuel economy, transmission, front seats, fit and finish, visibility. Transmission, braking, fuel economy, front-seat comfort, IIHS test results. Fuel economy, handling, ride, acceleration, transmission, fit and finish, front seats. Ride, handling, acceleration, quietness, fuel economy, front-seat comfort, fit and finish.

Rear seat, rear visibility. Tight rear seat, some controls, diesel-engine noise, pricey options. Ride, rear seat, rear visibility. Engine clatter, some controls, tight rear seat, pricey options. Reliability, controls, price.

Cramped interior and driving position, ride, road noise, lackluster handling, fuel economy, controls, access. Handling, fun to drive, acceleration, Reliability, CUE, tight interior, small braking, fit and finish, front-seat comfort. trunk, turbo lacks refinement, access. Reliability, ride, road noise, fuel Acceleration, braking, visibility, economy, some controls, restrictive relatively roomy cabin. options packages, small trunk. Reliability, annoying audio controls, Powertrain, fuel economy, braking. lacks panache. Reliability, transmission and shifter, anAcceleration, fuel economy, braking. noying audio controls, lacks panache. Powertrain refinement, reliability.

CARS: LUXURY MIDSIZED Audi A6 3.0 Premium Plus

Lincoln MKZ

Powertrain, handling, ride, quietness, fuel economy, front-seat comfort, fit Controls, turning circle. and finish, high-tech features. Acceleration, transmission, agility, brakBusy dashboard, overbearing ing, fit and finish, IIHS crash-test results. electronic safety aids. Quietness, ride, powertrain, front-seat Fussy controls. comfort, fit and finish, visibility, reliability. Acceleration, fuel economy, drivetrain, quietness, front-seat comfort, Lackluster handling, controls. reliability, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, hybrid drivetrain, Lackluster handling, controls, quietness, front-seat comfort, touchy brake pedal. reliability, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, acceleration, fit and Abrupt transition between electric and finish, IIHS crash-test results. gas modes, touchy brake pedal, trunk. Ride, braking, quietness, slick powertrain, plush interior, long Overzealous lane-keeping assist. warranty, IIHS crash-test results. Visibility, snug interior, hidden Handling, ride, quietness. exterior trunk release. Handling, ride, quietness, fuel Visibility, snug interior, hidden economy. exterior trunk release. Agility, fun to drive, front seats, Complicated CUE controls, plush interior, braking. rear seat, trunk. Powertrain, acceleration, ride, Reliability, disappointing handling, quietness, fit and finish, front seat. controls. Roomy interior and trunk, seat Reliability, frustrating CUE control comfort, fit and finish, quietness, interface, ride not plush enough, braking, transmission. visibility, small trunk opening. Spacious and plush interior, seat com- Reliability, ride, agility, complicated fort, braking, IIHS crash-test results. controls, suspension noise.

CARS: ULTRA LUXURY Ride, quietness, seat comfort, room, fit and finish, lots of high-tech features, fuel economy. Acceleration, ride, powertrain, fuel economy, quietness, interior room, fit and finish, seat comfort, reliability. Handling, acceleration, transmission, braking, seat comfort, quietness, fit and finish, fuel economy, high-tech features.

Narrow trunk, steep learning curve for controls. Agility, fussy controls.

Controls, small trunk.

* Based on limited data.**Powertrain has changed since last test.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

V E H I C L E R AT I N G S

Tesla Model S P85D**

$127,820

100

87 1

Mercedes-Benz S550 (4MATIC)

$114,475

Jaguar XJL Portfolio**

$81,575

Maserati Ghibli S Q4

$89,010

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

LOWS

CARS: ULTRA LUXURY continued Energy efficiency, acceleration, Reliability, limited range, access, vishandling, easy-to-use touchscreen, ibility, controls, reduced ride comfort luggage capacity, optional third-seat. and quietness with 21-inch tires. Most comfortable riding car, quietness, acceleration, braking, interior Reliability, complicated and room, seat comfort, fit and finish, distracting controls, price. active safety technologies. Acceleration, transmission, handling, ride, Trunk, some controls, access, quietness, seat comfort, fit and finish. rear visibility. Exhaust sound, steering feedback, Ride, initial turbo lag, wind noise, rear braking, acceleration, transmission, seat, access, touchy brake pedal, fit and finish. fussy shifter.

SPORTS/SPORTY CARS OVER $40,000 Equipped with manual transmission d BMW M235i**

$50,400

d Porsche 911 Carrera S

$110,630

d Audi TT Coupe 2.0T (AT)

$50,600

Chevrolet Camaro 2SS (V8)

$47,020

BMW Z4 sDrive28i

$55,225

Ford Mustang GT Premium (V8)

$43,295

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT

$73,260

Dodge Challenger R/T Plus (V8)

$40,860

Acceleration, handling, braking, front-seat comfort, quietness, IIHS Rear seat room, some controls. crash-test results, reliability. Acceleration, handling, braking, engine sound, visibility, fit and finish, Ride, noise, access, controls. handy small rear seat. Agility, braking, front seat comfort, Controls’ learning curve, ride, access, fit and finish, fuel economy, tiny rear seat. hatchback versatility. Acceleration, handling, braking, styling. Visibility, tight interior, low dash vents. Acceleration, fuel economy, braking. Handling, acceleration, braking, interior details, exhaust note. Acceleration, handling, braking, engine sound, controls, fit and finish, performance for the price. Braking, exhaust note, infotainment system, habitable rear seat, brawn.

Steering feel, ride, noise, tight quarters, access. Reliability, rear seat, ride. Reliability, ride, noise, access, visibility, shifter. Reliability, ride, noise, visibility, wide-hipped around town.

SPORTS/SPORTY CARS UNDER $40,000 Equipped with manual transmission $29,905

d Volkswagen GTI Autobahn $31,730

d Toyota 86 (Scion FR-S)

$25,025

d Subaru BRZ Premium

$27,117

Nissan 370Z Touring d (coupe)

$38,565

d Mini Cooper S

$29,945

d Subaru WRX Premium

$29,742

Ford Mustang Premium (4-cyl., AT)

$33,080

Ford Focus ST

$28,270

Fiat 500 Abarth

$26,050

Ford Fiesta ST

$24,985

d Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

Agility, shifter, fuel economy, easy Ride, noise, tight quarters, access. manual top. Agility, fuel economy, seat comfort, Limited rear-view camera availability, quiet cabin, hatchback versatility, gets pricey. IIHS crash-test results. Driving fun, handling, braking, Ride, noise, access, radio controls, fuel economy. vestigial rear seating. Driving fun, handling, braking, Ride, noise, access, radio controls, fuel economy. vestigial rear seating. Acceleration, handling, braking, Ride, noise, visibility, access. fit and finish. Handling, fuel economy, manual shifter, Rear seat, some controls, expensive thick option list allows personalization. rear camera, gets pricey. Acceleration, cornering grip, braking, Hard ride, constant engine drone, four-door practicality, visibility, IIHS stiff clutch, clunky shifter, turbo lag. crash-test results. Handling, braking, fuel economy, Reliability, rear seat, noise, raspy interior details. engine sound. Handling, fun to drive, acceleration, Reliability, driving position, snug braking, relatively civilized as a Recaro seats, some torque steer, daily driver. turning circle. Reliability, noise, ride, steering feel, drivInvigorating exhaust note, agility, ing position, controls, tiny rear seat and braking, fuel economy. cargo area, rear visibility, turning circle. Handling agility, effortless power Reliability, ride, snug optional delivery, sound, braking, Recaro seats. fuel economy, fun-to-drive.

WAGONS (ALL-WHEEL DRIVE) Subaru Outback 3.6R

$36,835

Subaru Outback 2.5

$28,852

Volvo V60 Cross Country

$46,475

d Limited

d Premium

46 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Ride, fuel economy, visibility, controls, access, practicality, standard AWD, IIHS crash-test results. Ride, fuel economy, visibility, controls, access, practicality, standard AWD, IIHS crash-test results. Transmission, braking, plush cabin, front-seat comfort, safety features, IIHS crash-test results.

Hard-to-read clock and temperature. Hard-to-read clock and temperature, acceleration, touchy throttle. Ride, rear visibility, tight rear seat and cargo area, headlights, no standard rear camera, value. ConsumerReports.org/cars

d Recommended

d Toyota Sienna XLE (FWD)

$35,810

d Honda Odyssey EX-L

$38,055

d Toyota Sienna XLE (AWD) $38,201

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

Better

Worse

LOWS

MINIVANS

Kia Sedona EX

$34,795

Ford Transit Connect XLT (2.5L)

$28,015

Nissan Quest SL

$39,040

Dodge Grand Caravan R/T $37,295

Ride, transmission, interior space and Agility, road noise, fit and finish. flexibility, rear seat, fuel economy. Ride, powertrain, fuel economy, spacious and flexible interior, com- Confusing uplevel radio, fit and finish. fortable seats, IIHS crash-test results. Ride, transmission, interior space and Agility, road noise, fit and finish. flexibility, rear seat, AWD. Powertrain, second-row comfort, fit Clumsy handling, stiff ride, lacks and finish, IIHS crash-test results. expected minivan flexibility Acceleration, difficult to fold Interior space, access, front visibility, seats, wind noise, some controls, fit handling, ride. and finish, sparse on features. Ride, quietness, powertrain, plush Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test interior, fold-flat seats. results, agility. Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test Ride, quietness, foldaway second-row results, fuel economy, cornering limits, seats, cargo flexibility. unrefined transmission, radio controls.

SUVs: SUBCOMPACTS Subaru Crosstrek

d Premium

$24,215

d Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

$27,132

d Mazda CX-3 Touring

$25,800

d Honda HR-V LX

$22,045

Chevrolet Trax LT

$25,560

Jeep Renegade Latitude

$27,525

Fiat 500X Easy

$26,600

d Premium

$27,145

d Toyota RAV4 XLE

$29,014

d Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE

$29,753

$28,670

d Mazda CX-5 Touring (2.5L) $28,090

d Hyundai Tucson SE (2.0L) $25,920

d Nissan Rogue SV

$29,920

d Volkswagen Tiguan SEL

$37,020

d Honda CR-V EX

$27,500

$36,600

Fuel economy, controls, rear seat, visNoise, ride, unrefined CVT. ibility, IIHS crash-test results, reliability. Visibility, fuel economy, reduced engine noise, better ride and handling Modest fuel-economy gain for than regular Crosstrek, IIHS test a hybrid. results, reliability. Handling, fuel economy, upscale Noise, infotainment learning curve, tight features. rear seat and cargo room, visibility. Fuel economy, roomy interior, Ride, noise, acceleration, front-seat storage, secure handling. comfort, rear door handles. Fuel economy, easy to park, Acceleration, ride, engine noise, decent room within a small footprint, rear visibility, front seats, touchcrash-test results. screen radio. Transmission, ride, visibility, Styling, upscale features. front-seat comfort, grabby brakes, idle vibration, gets pricey. Ride, transmission, noise, idle Maneuverability, upscale features, vibration, touchy brake pedal, IIHS crash-test results. visibility, front-seat comfort.

SUVs: COMPACT Subaru Forester 2.5i

Hyundai Tucson Sport

d (1.6T)

Ford Escape Titanium (2.0T) 1

Miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe).

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Fuel economy, visibility, braking, roomy interior, access, controls, Noise, touchy throttle. IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, transmission, access, Driver’s seat lumbar support, roominess, reliability, IIHS crash-test too easy to turn off daytime results. running lights. Fuel economy, transmission, access, Driver’s seat lumbar support, roominess, reliability, IIHS crash-test too easy to turn off daytime results. running lights. Room, quietness, ride, agility, braking, Vibration and low speeds, rear fuel economy, upscale features, long visibility, expensive with options. warranty, IIHS crash test results. Fuel economy, agility, rear-seat, blindRide, noise, low dash vents. spot detection, IIHS crash-test results. Room, ride, agility, braking, Acceleration, engine noise, rear upscale features, long warranty, visibility, expensive with options. IIHS crash-test results. Ride, access, spacious interior, fuel economy, optional surround-view Engine noise, cloth front-seat lacks camera, available third-row seat, IIHS support, gets pricey. crash-test results. Agility, transmission, access, fit and Ride, noise, touch-screen controls. finish, rear seat. Rear seat, roomy and functional, fuel Ride, noise, unintuitive infotainment economy, active safety features on system. higher trims, IIHS crash-test results. Agility, ride, quietness, solid Reliability, narrow driving position, feel, access. some controls.

! Caution, subpar crash-test results. * Based on limited data.**Powertrain has changed since last test. CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

V E H I C L E R AT I N G S

Audi Q3

HIGHS

LOWS

Reliability, narrow driving position, some controls. Agility, acceleration, engine noise, unsettled ride, no A/C vents for rear passengers. Reliability, transmission, choppy ride, agility, visibility, confusing pricing structure. Engine noise, acceleration, braking, driving position, front-seat comfort, rear visibility, cornering limits. Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test results, engine noise, acceleration, driving position, front-seat comfort, complicated optional radio controls. Reliability, transmission, choppy ride, agility, visibility, front-seat comfort, confusing price structure.

$28,040

Agility, ride, quietness, solid feel, access.

Mitsubishi Outlander SEL $28,405 (4-cyl.)

Standard third-row seat, access, visibility, IIHS crash-test results.

Jeep Cherokee Limited (V6)

$37,525

Quietness, access, rear seat, high-end options.

Jeep Compass Latitude**

$26,190

Simple controls.

Jeep Patriot Latitude**

$25,790

Compliant ride.

Jeep Cherokee Latitude (4-cyl.)

$27,490

Access, rear seat, high-end options.

$37,915

Toyota Highlander Hybrid $50,875

Toyota Highlander XLE

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

Kia Sorento

OVERALL SCORE

SUVs: COMPACT continued Ford Escape SE (1.6T)**

SUVs: MIDSIZED d Kia Sorento EX (V6)

d Limited

d (V6)

$38,941

d Nissan Murano SL

$42,065

d (2.0 EcoBoost)

Ford Edge SEL

$39,755

d Honda Pilot EX-L

$39,585

Chevrolet Equinox LTZ (V6)

$36,925

GMC Terrain SLT2 (V6)

$36,675

Chevrolet Equinox 1LT (4-cyl.)

$26,350

48 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Ride, quietness, smooth V6, fuel Rear visibility, tight third-row seat, economy, 3-row seating, easy to small infotainment system screen maneuver yet roomy, IIHS crash-test on EX trim. results, reliability. Fuel economy, powertrain, quietness, roomy and versatile interior, access, Low rear seat, too easy to turn off easy-to-use infotainment system, daytime running lights. IIHS crash-test results, reliability. Powertrain, fuel economy, roomy and versatile interior, access, easy-to-use Low rear-seat, too easy to turn off infotainment system, IIHS crash-test daytime running lights. results, reliability. Fuel economy, plush interior, access, Visibility, overly light steering, agility, infotainment system, readily available towing capacity. advanced safety features , reliability. Ride, quietness, handling, rear seat and cargo, access, luxury amenities in Visibility, acceleration. high-end versions. Clumsy handling, touch-screen radio, Roomy interior, visibility, access, blind-spot monitor only on Elite trim, smooth powertrain, fuel economy, annoying 9-speed automatic with push crash-test results, available safety gear. button shifter on high-end versions. Acceleration, ride, roomy rear seat, Visibility, sluggish feel. access, IIHS crash-test results. Acceleration, ride, roomy rear seat, Visibility, sluggish feel. access, IIHS crash-test results. Rear seat, ride, handling, fuel econo- Acceleration, transmission, visibility, my, IIHS crash-test results. turning circle.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

d Recommended

GMC Terrain SLE1 (4-cyl.)

$26,745

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (4-cyl.)

$28,370

Hyundai Santa Fe SE (V6) $36,290

Ford Explorer XLT (V6)

$39,275

Toyota 4Runner SR5 (V6)

$37,425

Nissan Pathfinder SL

$40,470

Dodge Journey Limited (V6)

$36,975

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara

$36,340

d (V6)

$43,525

d Chevrolet Traverse LT

$39,920

d Ford Flex SEL

$42,155

Ford Expedition EL Limited

$63,080

Toyota Sequoia Limited (5.7)

$54,005

Chevrolet Suburban LTZ

$69,790

Chevrolet Tahoe LT

$60,100

GMC Yukon SLT

$62,125

GMC Yukon XL SLT

$67,370

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

Better

Worse

LOWS

SUVs: MIDSIZED continued

Rear seat, ride, handling, fuel Acceleration, transmission, visibility, economy, IIHS crash-test results. turning circle. Roomy interior, fuel economy, transmisRear three-quarters visibility. sion, controls, feature content, warranty. Powertrain, fuel economy, roomy and Reliability, tight third-row with versatile cabin, access, controls, long difficult access. warranty. Interior room and flexibility, usable Agility, driving position, some third-row, cabin storage. controls, unrefined transmission. Off-road ability, power-retractable Handling, ride, driving position, fit rear window, reliability. and finish, access, turning circle. Roominess, controls, access, IIHS Reliability, handling, rear visibility, crash-test results. second-row thigh support. Reliability, handling, unresponsive Ride, quietness, cabin storage. transmission, fuel economy, rear visibility, tiny third-row. Ride, handling, braking, wind noise, Powertrain, off-road capability. access, driving position, seat comfort, visibility, fit and finish.

SUVs: LARGE Dodge Durango Limited

Ride, quietness, transmission, interior space, access, front-seat comfort, usable third-row seat, towing capacity. Ride, handling, quietness, interior room and flexibility, usable third-row seat, blind-spot mirrors. Ride, quietness, interior room and flexibility. Huge interior, plenty of power, comfortable third-row seat, towing capacity, reliability. Powertrain, accommodations, towing and off-road capability, storage, power-retractable rear window, reliability. Utility, quietness, fit and finish, easy to use infotainment system, cargo and towing capacity. Quietness, fit and finish, easy to use infotainment system, cargo and towing capacity. Quietness, fit and finish, easy to use infotainment system, cargo and towing capacity. Utility, quietness, fit and finish, easy to use infotainment system, cargo and towing capacity.

Rear visibility, maneuverability. Rear visibility, fuel economy, wet braking. Lackluster handling, turning circle, rear visibility. Fuel economy, noise, clumsy handling, cheap cabin finish, lacks advanced safety gear, feels outdated. Agility, braking, unsettled ride, high step-in, long reach to some controls. Reliability, step-in height, long length to park, feels underpowered, price. Reliability, handling, stiff ride, feels underpowered, step-in height, price. Reliability, handling, stiff ride, feels underpowered, step-in height, price. Reliability, handling, stiff ride, step-in height, long length to park, feels underpowered, price.

SUVs: LUXURY ENTRY-LEVEL d Audi Q3 Premium Plus

$40,125

Buick Encore Leather

$30,555

BMW X1 xDrive28i

$44,745

Mini Cooper Countryman S

$32,500

Mercedes-Benz GLA250

$42,210

d Lexus NX 200t

$43,284

d BMW X3 xDrive28i (2.0T)

$44,595

Ride, handling, quietness, fit and finish, reliability. Ride, quietness, braking, maneuverability, fuel economy, IIHS crash-test results, reliability.

Tight quarters, narrow driving position. Acceleration, driving position, narrow cabin, rear visibility, value.

Road noise, narrow front seats, stiff ride, no blind spot monitoring. Handling, transmission, acceleration, Ride, noise, controls, cargo space, prefuel economy, IIHS crash-test results. mium fuel, flimsy interior details, pricey. Acceleration, braking, fuel economy, Ride, noise, uneven power delivery, fit and finish. rear seat, visibility, some controls. Fuel economy, transmission, braking.

SUVs: LUXURY COMPACT Fuel economy, handling, maneuverabilTight quarters, visibility, fussy ity, IIHS crash-test results, reliability. touchpad controller, in-cabin storage. Agility, powertrain, braking, fuel Controls, low rear seat. economy, fit and finish.

! Caution, subpar crash-test results. * Based on limited data.**Powertrain has changed since last test.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

V E H I C L E R AT I N G S

d (2.0T)

$43,675

d Lexus NX 300h

$51,224

d Acura RDX

$38,990

Porsche Macan S

$63,290

Mercedes-Benz GLC300

$49,105

Volvo XC60 T6**

$42,245

Lincoln MKC Reserve

$46,485

Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE

$49,895

$57,565

d (2.7 EcoBoost)

Lincoln MKX

$54,945

d Acura MDX Tech

$51,410

d Lexus RX 350

$51,630

d Porsche Cayenne (V6)

$63,805

d (ML)

$56,960

d Lexus GX 460

$58,428

$70,050

Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum $56,805

Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (diesel)

$49,780

Infiniti QX70**

$51,635

Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (V6)

$41,375

Infiniti QX60 (3.5L)

$51,920

Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE (3.0L)

$74,040

d Audi Q7 Premium Plus

$68,695

d Buick Enclave CXL

$43,260

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

LOWS

SUVs: LUXURY COMPACT continued Audi Q5 Premium Plus

Handling, transmission, braking, fit Controls. and finish, IIHS crash-test results. Fuel economy, handling, maneuverabilTight quarters, visibility, fussy ity, IIHS crash-test results, reliability. touchpad controller, in-cabin storage. Acceleration, access, front-seat Ride, at-the-limit handling, rear viscomfort. ibility, lacking some luxury features. Handling, powertrain, ride, quietness, Reliability, rear visibility, modest braking, front-seat comfort, fit and cargo area, stingy standard in-car finish, towing capacity. electronics, lots of buttons, price. Ride, agility, fuel economy, fit and finish, front seat comfort, standard Controls, engine noise. frontal collision avoidance Transmission, fit and finish, advanced Ride, fuel economy, rear visibility. safety features, IIHS crash-test results. Reliability, unsettled ride, agility, Quietness, braking, nicely trimmed short cruising range, driving position, interior. rear visibility. Transmission, uneven power Access, rear seat, some delivery, ride, handling, controls, off-road ability. rear visibility, price.

SUVs: LUXURY MIDSIZED d Lexus RX 450h

Mercedes-Benz GLE350

BMW X5 xDrive35i

Quietness, ride, fuel economy, fit and finish, IIHS crash-test results. Ride, handling, quietness, acceleration, fit and finish. Fuel economy, fit and finish, third-row access mechanism, rear seat, standard electronic safety features, headlights, IIHS crash-test results. Quietness, ride, fuel economy, fit and finish, IIHS crash-test results. Handling, transmission, fit and finish, towing capacity, headlights. Quietness, transmission, front-seat comfort, fit and finish, towing capacity, IIHS crash-test results. Powertrain, quietness, ride, fit and finish, front-seat comfort, off-road ability, towing, reliability. Drivetrain, fuel economy, quietness, seat comfort, fit and finish, visibility. Quietness, seat comfort, fit and finish, visibility, braking, high-beam headlights, IIHS crash-test results. Quietness, ride, fuel economy, off-road and towing capabilities, seat comfort, fit and finish, easy-to-use Uconnect infotainment system. Acceleration, transmission, handling, fit and finish, front seat. Quietness, ride, off-road and towing capability, seat comfort, fit and finish, easy to use Uconnect system. Plush interior, roomy cabin, quietness, fit and finish, access, front-seat comfort, controls, surround-view camera, IIHS crash-test results. Handling, acceleration, fit and finish, front visibility, towing and off-road capability.

Agility, wet stopping distances, frustrating mouse-like controller, rear visibility. Fuel economy, shifter, small fonts in instrument cluster. Controls, transmission and shifter, agility, suspension noise, rear visibility. Agility, wet stopping distances, frustrating mouse-like controller, rear visibility. Controls, slow start-stop feature, lowspeed ride, pricey options. Some controls, backup camera only works with radio on. Agility, tight third-row seat, side-hinged tailgate. Reliability, some controls. Stiff ride, unintuitive controls, fuel economy.

Reliability.

Ride, rear visibility, cargo area. Reliability.

Reliability, agility, rear visibility.

Stiff ride, poor snow traction, controls, fussy shifter.

SUVs: LUXURY LARGE

50 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Powertrain, quietness, handling, braking, high-tech infotainment, luxury Controls have a steep learning curve, interior, towing capacity, standard rear visibility, shifter. forward collision avoidance feature. Ride, handling, interior room and flexibility, quietness, fit and finish, easy Fuel economy, rear visibility. access to usable third seat.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Lincoln MKX

Ford F-150 d Recommended

$84,820

Lincoln Navigator Base

$68,895

Mercedes-Benz GLS350d**

$73,020

Land Rover Range Rover (base, 3.0L)

$88,545

Infiniti QX80

$63,395

Cadillac Escalade Premium

$87,360

Ford F-150 XLT

$46,755

Ford F-150 XLT

$45,750

Toyota Tundra SR5 (5.7L V8)

$38,715

Ram 1500 Big Horn (V6, diesel)

$49,155

Ram 1500 Big Horn (5.7L V8)

$42,810

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT (5.3L V8)

$42,070

GMC Sierra 1500 SLT (5.3L V8)

$43,200

Toyota Tacoma SR5 (V6)

$34,364

Chevrolet Colorado LT (V6)

$34,300

GMC Canyon SLE (V6)

$35,835

Recommended

As tested

Overall MPG

TEST RESULTS Road Test Score

SURVEY RESULTS Owner Satisfaction

PRICE

Predicted Reliability

MAKE & MODEL

OVERALL SCORE

HIGHS

Better

Worse

LOWS

SUVs: LUXURY LARGE continued d Toyota Land Cruiser**

Ride, quietness, powertrain, acceleration, fit and finish, front- and secondrow seats, off-road, towing capacity. Ride, effortless power, spacious interior and third row, towing capacity. Fuel economy, quietness, ride, plush interior, front-seat comfort, roomy rear and third-row seats, towing capacity. Ride, quietness, acceleration, interior room, fit and finish, visibility, seat comfort, off-road and towing capabilities. Powertrain, quietness, rear seat, fit and finish, cargo capacity, towing, off-road, headlights.

Fuel economy, agility, tight third-row seat. Wind noise, interior fit and finish, agility. Reliability, clumsy emergency handling, some controls, backup camera only works with radio on. Agility, controls.

Handling, access.

Reliability, stiff ride, handling, Quietness, fit and finish, front-seat braking, unintuitive CUE infotainment comfort, towing capacity, headlights. system, tiny third-row seat.

PICKUP TRUCKS d (3.5 V6 EcoBoost) d (2.7 V6 EcoBoost)

Quiet cabin, acceleration, fuel economy, towing and payload capacities, lots of clever features. Quiet cabin, acceleration, fuel economy, towing and payload capacities, lots of clever features. Powertrain, towing, low-effort tailgate, reliability. Fuel economy, transmission, ride, quietness, roomy cabin, Uconnect system. Powertrain, ride, quietness, cabin space, Uconnect touchscreen. Fuel economy, quietness, relatively good agility and access, payload and towing capacity, low-effort tailgate. Fuel economy, quietness, relatively good agility and access, payload and towing capacity, low-effort tailgate. Fuel economy, resale value, reliability, off-road capability. Maneuverability, towing and payload capacities, fuel economy, standard rear camera, damped tail gate. Maneuverability, towing and payload capacities, fuel economy, standard rear camera, damped tail gate.

Jittery ride, lackluster handling, braking. Jittery ride, lackluster handling, braking. Ride, visibility, braking, long reach to some controls, no full-time 4WD. Reliability, access, heavy tailgate, diesel gets expensive. Reliability, access, heavy rear tailgate. Reliability, ride, long wet stopping distances, seat comfort. Reliability, ride, long wet stopping distances, seat comfort. Ride, handling, braking, noise, driving position, seat comfort. Reliability, ride, uncomfortable seats and driving position, gets pricey. Reliability, ride, uncomfortable seats and driving position, gets pricey.

* Based on limited data.**Powertrain has changed since last test.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

RECOMMENDED VEHICLES

Profiles A User’s Guide

On the following pages, you’ll find reviews, key Ratings, and information for the 252 cars, SUVs, minivans, pickup trucks, wagons, and hatchbacks featured in this book, covering all 2016 and early 2017 models. Each profile includes a review by Consumer Reports’ auto experts; model overview information including base price, body styles, engines, transmissions, and key dimensions and measurements; reliability history; and a Report Card detailing an overall score and road test score, along with Ratings for predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and availability of crash-prevention features. Use these profiles, along with the Ratings (starting on page 36) and our data charts (starting on page 180), to narrow down your choices.

3 5

52 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

OVERALL SCORE

SCORES IN KEY CATEGORIES The Overall Score accounts for a veKEY FOR REPORT CARD hicle’s performance in our road tests, B X BC BV B Z results from our reliability and owner- Better Worse satisfaction surveys, the availability of a frontal-crash prevention system, and, if applicable, results from crash tests by government and insurance-industry test facilities. A range of scores indicates that we have tested several vehicles. If we have not tested a vehicle it will have an NA for overall score. Predicted reliability is our forecast of how well a model is likely to hold up, derived from CR’s 2015 Annual Auto Survey, which garnered responses on about 740,000 vehicles. Detailed Ratings are provided in the Reliability History charts explained on the opposite page (see No. 5). Owner satisfaction comes from our annual survey in which we asked owners if they would definitely buy or lease their particular vehicle again. Road test score is the final tally from our test findings, based on more than 50 tests. Some tests, such as those for acceleration, braking, and fuel economy, are objective, instrumented tests. Other tests that evaluate seat comfort, ride quality, and ease of use of controls, are subjective and graded by our experts. Crash prevention identifies whether a vehicle has a frontal-crash prevention system. NA means no such system is offered, and Opt. means it’s available on some versions, but not necessarily on the one we tested. Models with standard systems are rated from C to Z based on their ability to warn drivers or brake autonomously to avoid a crash. An asterisk (*) means information is based on limited data.

MODEL-LINE INFORMATION

MODELS THAT MEET STRINGENT CRITERIA These are the vehicles that meet Consumer Reports’ stringent testing, reliability, and safety standards. To earn our Recommendation (right), vehicles must perform well in our testing; have average or better reliability; and perform adequately, if included in safety tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

PRICE, BODY STYLES, TRIM LINES, AND DRIVETRAINS Base price is the range of base prices for all versions of the model. The base price is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) without options or destination charge. An “E” indicates the price is estimated. Models often come in various body styles (sedan, wagon, etc.) and trim lines, which are versions that differ mainly in standard equipment, available options, and price. A dash (—) means that only one trim line was available. Pickup trucks are listed by available cab configurations. Drive wheels tells you if the model is available with front-, rear-, allwheel drive (AWD), or four-wheel drive (4WD). It also shows the type of 4WD system. Seating is the maximum number of passengers who can be accommodated in the front, rear, and third-row (if any) seats. Some models are available with different seating configurations; this figure is for the version with the most passenger capacity. Engines and transmissions show the choices of drivetrain components.

ConsumerReports.org/cars

FACTS & FIGURES 4 Exterior dimensions are the basic measurements for the vehicles. Length is measured from bumper to bumper. Width is measured from the outermost side of one fender to the opposite fender. Height is measured from the top of the inside door frame to the ground. Wheelbase is the distance from the center of the front wheel to the center of the rear. Weight and % weight front/rear are measured on our scales. Some data come from manufacturers. Max load includes occupants and luggage, and is specified by the manufacturer or calculated from the difference between the manufacturer’s specified gross vehicle weight and our tested vehicle weight. Cargo volume for minivans, SUVs, and wagons is the maximum usable

cargo volume with rear seats folded down or removed. CR measures this using an expandable pipe-frame box that’s adjusted to fit the cargo area. Data for models with a trunk come from government figures. No volume is given for pickup trucks. Towing capacity is the maximum weight our test vehicle can pull on a trailer or a typical weight. Fuel gives the recommended types (regular, premium, or diesel) for all the models’ engines. CR Overall MPG is the mileage from our tested engines for a mix of city and highway driving, given in a range if there are multiple versions tested. EPA MPG is the combined city and highway mileage figures issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for a typical engine if we have not tested that model.

RELIABILITY HISTORY 5 These charts are based on about 740,000 responses to our 2015 Annual Auto Survey. Consumer Reports subscribers reported on any problems they had with their vehicles during the previous 12 months, considered serious because of cost, failure, safety, or downtime, in any of the trouble spots included in the table below. The scores in the charts are based on the percentage of respondents who reported problems in each of the 17 trouble spots. Because highmileage cars tend to encounter more problems than low-mileage cars, problem rates are standardized to minimize differences due to mileage. The 2015 models were generally less than six months old at the time of the survey, with an average of about 3,000 miles. HOW TO READ THE CHARTS To check on the reliability history of a particular year’s model, start with the Used Car Verdict. This score shows whether the model had more or fewer problems overall than the average model of that year, calculated from the total number of problems reported by subscribers in all trouble spots. Because problems with the engine major, engine cooling, transmission major, and drive system can be serious and expensive to repair, our calculations give extra weight to problems in those areas. To see how a 2016 model on sale is likely to hold up, look at the New Car Prediction at the bottom of each chart. For this Rating, we averaged a model’s Used Car Verdict for the newest three years, provided the vehicle did not change significantly in that time and hasn’t been redesigned for 2016. We have found that several model years’ data are a better predictor than the single most recent model year. One or two years’ data may be used if the model was redesigned in 2015 or 2014, or if there were insufficient data for more years. Sometimes we include a prediction for a model that is new or has been redesigned, provided its reliability history and the manufacturer’s track record have remained consistently above average. To see a model’s individual strengths and weaknesses, look at the individual scores for each of the Average Problem Rates 17 Trouble Spots. The chart at the TROUBLE 13 14 15 SPOTS left shows the average problem rates Engine Major <1 <1 <1 for all models in the survey in each Engine Minor 1 <1 <1 Engine Cooling <1 <1 <1 trouble spot. Scores for each chart Transmission Major <1 <1 <1 are based on the percentage of surTransmission Minor 1 1 <1 Drive System 1 1 <1 vey respondents who reported probFuel system 1 1 <1 lems for that trouble spot, compared Electrical <1 <1 <1 with the average model of that year. Climate System 1 1 <1 Suspension 1 1 <1 Models that score a B are not necBrakes 1 1 <1 essarily unreliable, but have a higher Exhaust <1 <1 <1 rate of problems than the average Paint/Trim 1 1 1 Noises/Leaks 2 2 1 model. Similarly, models that score Body Hardware 1 1 <1 a Z are not necessarily problemPower Equipment 2 1 1 In-car Electronics 3 2 2 free, but had relatively few problems USED CAR VERDICTS compared with other models. NEW CAR Because problem rates in some PREDICTION trouble spots are very low, we do not KEY TO RELIABILITY RATINGS assign a B or a V unless the model’s BZ BX BC BV B Better Worse problem rate exceeds 3 percent. If ConsumerReports.org/cars

a problem rate is below 2 or 1 percent it will be assigned a X or a Z respectively. In the charts, a model year in red identifies the year of a major redesign or the first year of introduction. Model years with insufficient data are noted with a column of asterisks (*). WHAT THE TROUBLE SPOTS INCLUDE > Engine, major: Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt. > Engine, minor: Oil leaks, accessory belts and pulleys, engine mounts, engine knock or ping. > Engine, cooling: Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating. > Transmission, major: Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, premature clutch replacement. > Transmission, minor: Gear selector or linkage, coolers and lines, rough shifting, slipping transmission, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, hydraulics (clutch master or slave cylinder). > Drive system: Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure. > Fuel system: Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation. > Electrical: Alternator, starter, hybrid/electric battery replacement, hybrid/electric battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure. > Climate system: Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure. > Suspension: Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps & hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension. > Brakes: Premature wear, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, antilock brake system (ABS), parking brake, brake failure. > Exhaust: Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, leaks. > Paint/trim: Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, peeling), loose trim or moldings, rust. > Noises/leaks: Squeaks or rattles, seals, and/or weather stripping, air or water leaks, wind noise. > Body hardware: Windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect. > Power equipment and accessories: Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior light, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, remote engine start, alarm or security system. > In-car electronics: Audio systems, entertainment systems, navigation system, backup camera/sensors, communication system. CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Acura ILX

Acura MDX

cura’s entry-level compact sedan got a slight makeover for 2016, but don’t expect a bargain luxury sedan. Acura failed to address the stiff, jumpy ride, and handling is more mundane than sporty, but ultimately secure. Road noise is incessant and the new transmission makes the car hesitate off the line. The sole powertrain is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed automatedmanual transmission. Once underway, the gearbox feels reluctant to downshift, lugging the engine when you need power. The lack of lumbar support for the driver’s seat is another knock, and the infotainment system is not very intuitive. Available safety features include road-departure and forward-collision mitigation systems, and lane-keep assist.

OVERALL SCORE 57 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 79 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $27,990-$34,980 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Standard, Premium, Tech Plus Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (201 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed sequential

TROUBLE SPOTS

Acura ILX

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,095 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 64/36 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

54 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Worse than average 2

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

his functional, family-friendly, and competitively priced luxury SUV is comfortable, quick, and quiet, with generous space for seven. The second row folds and slides forward with the touch of a button for easy access to the small third row. The 3.5-liter V6 is silky smooth and delivers more than adequate acceleration. We measured a very commendable 21 mpg overall with the nine-speed automatic. Front-drive versions should have better fuel economy. Unfortunataly this transmission is not always smooth or responsive, and the push-button shifter is unintuitive to use. The dual-screen control interface is frustrating to use. The 2017 freshening brings a hybrid version with a seven-speed autoamtic, as well as standard AcuraWatch, which includes safety systems such as lanedeparture warning and forward-collision avoidance

Base Price: $43,950-$60,000E Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Tech, Advance, Hybrid Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (290 hp); 3.0liter V6 hybrid (325 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic; 7-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Acura MDX (2016) 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,200 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,175 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Std./Z

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4

Better than average 4 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Acura RDX

Acura RLX

erived from the Honda CR-V compact SUV, the RDX is wellequipped for the price. The very smooth, capable, and sweetsounding V6 packs some punch and returns 22 mpg overall. Handling is not especially agile, and the ride is a little stiff. We also found that the front wheels can easily spin on wet pavement before the AWD system transfers power to the rear wheels, which might be disconcerting on slippery surfaces. Despite some updates, the interior is rather forgettable for an upscale SUV, lacking some luxury features usually found on its competitors. Unfortunately, the freshening also brought Acura’s convoluted dual-screen control system. Still, the seats are comfortable and the rear seat is roomy. The Acura Watch safety package is available on all trims.

OVERALL SCORE 72 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 59 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $35,370-$43,420 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Tech, Advance Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (279 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Acura RDX

Engine Major Engine Minor

Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,850 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 870 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . .31.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &4

Better than average 4

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Engine Cooling

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

cura’s flagship falls well short of its competitors, and misses some of the key attributes that make up a luxury sedan. The ride is jumpy and unsettled, undermining the car’s main mission. Lack of handling agility makes the car feel ungainly. A high point is the responsive 310-hp V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. Our tested FWD model averaged 23 mpg overall. The pricey all-wheel-drive hybrid gets an EPA-rated 30 mpg combined. The spacious cabin is well-made, but it isn’t particularly luxurious and the overly complicated controls serve as an ergonomics lesson in what not to do. Safety features such as a surround-view camera and cross-traffic monitor are available. Reliability has dropped to much worse than average.

Base Price: $50,950-$65,950 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: NAV, Tech, Advance, Hybrid Tech, Hybrid Advance Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (310 hp); 3.5liter V6 hybrid (377 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed automatic

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Acura RLX 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 1 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,930 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 55

Acura TLX

Alfa Romeo 4C

he TLX is Acura’s best sedan, but still isn’t in the same league as the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series. It’s available with either a four- or a six-cylinder engine, but all-wheel drive is only available with the V6. The 2.4-liter uses an eight-speed automated manual that delivers quick, direct shifts and contributes to the very good 27 mpg overall. The V6 is a gem, with plenty of power, but its nine-speed automatic shifts roughly. Handling is responsive, but not sporty, although the ride is quite comfortable. The cabin is quiet, but rear-seat room is so-so. A generous roster of advanced safety systems includes front-collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitors. First-year reliability has been much below average.

OVERALL SCORE 55-57 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

75-79

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $31,695-$44,800 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 2.4L, V6, SH-AWD Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (206 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (290 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed sequential; 9-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Acura TLX 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,480 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-27

56 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

lfa’s 4C is a super-light two-seat, mid-engine sports car for people who live more for the track than their commute. In concept it resembles the departed Lotus Elise, but with slightly more creature comforts. It weighs only about 2,500 pounds. The 4C is powered by a 1.7-liter turbo four that cranks out 237 hp and uses a dual-clutch six-speed automated manual that can be shifted manually. With its feather-like weight, low center of gravity, and race car-like weight distribution, the 4C is a pure sports car that’s fun to drive, with superlative handling. However, the unassisted steering requires a high effort at low speeds, visibility is challenging, and access is arduous. A Spider version is available with a removable fabric roof panel.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $55,900-$65,900 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 1.7-liter 4 turbo (237 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System Fuel System

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,465 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 41/59 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A3

hen the 2017 Giulia arrives it will be offered in a number of flavors, from mild to spicy. First to arrive is the $70,000 Quadrifoglio version, which will use a Ferrari-developed 505-hp, 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that Alfa claims will zip the car from 0-60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. If you want some flash but don’t need all that dash, mainstream editions go on sale about one month later. The typical Giulia will have a 276-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged fourcylinder, mated to an eight-speed automatic. Pricing starts at around $40,000, with rear- and all-wheel drive offered. Interior fit and finish appear solid, with supportive seats and soft-click switchgear that is easily accessible.

Base Price: $40,000-$70,000E Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Ti, Quadrifoglio Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (276 hp); 2.9-liter V6 turbo (505 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

udi’s A3 is a compelling entry-level luxury car, but it lacks some expected features for its price and the interior feels austere. It’s solid, quiet, and has a drum-tight body structure. Crisp handling and a firm, controlled ride make it enjoyable to drive. Base FWD models come with a 1.8-liter engine, which delivered a respectable 27 mpg in our tests. The car has ample power once underway, but it can feel flat off the line. AWD versions have a stronger 2.0-liter turbo engine. Gripes include an infotainment system that takes time to master and a tight rear seat. It’s easy to hit $40,000 with just a few options. A sporty S3 with a 292-hp 2.0-liter turbo, a convertible, and a hatchback plug-in hybrid are available. First-year reliability has been average.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

Base Price: $30,900-$42,500 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; convertible; sedan Trim Lines: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige, S3 Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 turbo (170 hp); 1.4-liter 4 hybrid (204 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (220 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (292 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,300 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes

NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

TROUBLE SPOTS

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,135 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Audi A3 13

Engine Major

Electrical

DATA

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Fuel System

Electrical

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4

&3 Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 57

Audi A4

Audi A5

espite its similar styling, the A4 is an all-new car. It is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, mated to a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The engine is smooth and punchy and the transmission is slick. Handling is nimble and precise, the ride is supple, and the A4 feels tight-as-a-drum solid. The seats are comfortable but the shifter is unintuitive. The interior features a fully digital, configurable instrument panel that can show pertinent information in front of the driver. A new interface is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new S4 sedan and Allroad wagon will be introduced later in the year. The previous A4 scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test. The new one improved to Good.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

NA Std./4

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $37,300-$48,000 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (252 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Audi A4

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,630 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,060 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

58 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

erived from the previous-generation A4, the A5 coupe and convertible have quiet, luxurious cabins. Although snug, the rear seat is one of the best in any convertible. The car drives well, with nimble handling and a firm, road-hugging suspension. Power from the base 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is ample, but it sounds raspy; the eight-speed automatic is supersmooth. Interior fit and finish is superb and the seats are supportive. The controls take some time to get used to, but are generally logical. The convertible is almost devoid of wind buffeting, and you can operate the insulated soft top up to 30 mph. The S5 uses the supercharged V6 and seven-speed automated manual, and the high-performance RS 5 sports a 450-hp V8.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

Better than average 4

Base Price: $42,200-$70,900 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: 2.0T, S5 3.0T, RS 5 4.2 Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (220 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (333 hp); 4.2-liter V8 (450 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Audi A5

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,050 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Audi A6

Audi A7

udi’s A6 has comfortable ride and nimble handling, strong performance, great seats, and excellent fit and finish. The 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder works well, but has a raspy, less-thanluxurious engine sound. The 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 is smooth and punchy, while the 4.0-liter V8 in the S6 delivers effortless thrust. Front-drive versions get the four-cylinder and a seven-speed automated manual. All-wheel-drive versions can also be equipped with the four-cylinder, but use the smooth eight-speed automatic. The controls take some getting used to, but prove logical. A USB port is now standard for connecting mobile devices.

OVERALL SCORE 84 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $47,600-$74,100 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 2.0T, 3.0T, Competition, S6 4.0T Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (252 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (333 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (450 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Audi A6

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,075 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Fuel System

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

his stylish hatchback version of the A6 sacrifices some access, rear-seat room, and visibility in exchange for sportiness and looks. Still, with its rear hatch and generous interior, the A7 provides a healthy dollop of practicality. Handling is responsive and secure, and the ride is steady, though firm, particularly on the optional 20-inch tires. The interior is very luxurious, but the controls take some time to master. A mid-cycle freshening brought tweaks to nearly every engine. The 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 is good for 333 hp while a 450-hp, 4.0-liter V8 powers the S7. If you need more gusto, the RS 7’s engine puts out 560 hp.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

3 &

Better than average 4

Base Price: $68,800-$129,500 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: 3.0T, Competition, S7, RS 7 Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (333 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (450 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (560 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (605 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,235 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Audi A7

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 1

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 59

Audi A8

Audi Allroad

udi’s flagship provides smooth and effortless acceleration yet attains commendable fuel economy even with all-wheel drive. The car handles crisply and holds the road tenaciously, making it one of the sportiest luxury sedans we’ve tested. The ride is firm and steady, but not as cushy as in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Interior ambience, quality of materials, and craftsmanship are top-notch. The front seats are exceptionally comfortable and supportive, with a variety of massage settings. Demerits include controls that are daunting at first, and a relatively small trunk. Engines range from diesel and gas V6s to a V8, turbo V8, and a W12. The diesel is under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emissions regulations.

OVERALL SCORE 86 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $82,500-$137,900 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 3.0T, 4.0T, S8 4.0T, S8 Plus, W12 6.3 Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (333 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (450 hp); 6.3-liter 12 (500 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (520 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (605 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

n all-new Allroad, based on the same platform found in the redesigned A4, will be offered later this year. Following the same format as before, the Allroad features rugged styling details and slightly higher ride height. The outgoing Allroad had responsive handling and was fun to drive. A spunky, turbocharged four-cylinder engine is matched with a slick eight-speed automatic, providing adequate, though not remarkable, acceleration. We measured 22 mpg overall, which is competitive with most luxury compact SUVs. The cabin is quiet and very well-finished, and a power-operated liftgate and three-zone climate control system are standard. As compelling as the Allroad is, Audi’s Q5 SUV costs less, offers more rear-seat room and cargo space, and has a greater towing capacity. Reliability has been well above average.

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Base Price: $45,000-$55,000E Body Styles: wagon Trim Lines: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (220 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (252 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 8-speed automatic

Transmission Minor Drive System

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,420 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

60 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Fuel System

DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Audi Allroad

Drive System

ENOUGH

Brakes Exhaust

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,875 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Audi Q3

Audi Q5

tidy, compact crossover, the Q3 competes with the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. Overall it manages to deliver a premium driving experience similar to the Q5 but in a 10-inch shorter package. The energetic 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbo fourcylinder is mated to a conventional six-speed automatic, and returned 22 mpg overall in our tests. This is a quiet SUV with a firm, comfortable ride and responsive handling. The cabin is a bit simplistic looking, but it gives a sense of quality. Demerits include the tight quarters, cramped driving position, and controls that take some getting used to. Front- and all-wheel drive is available. First-year reliability has been much better than average.

Base Price: $31,800-$41,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (200 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 80 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Audi Q3 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,680 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,060 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 24.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he Q5 is nearly as fun and as rewarding to drive as a sports sedan. The ride is steady and composed on the highway, but can feel too firm at first. Its turbo four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic racked up a commendable 21 mpg overall in our tests. Though the fourcylinder delivers plenty of performance, it is louder and less refined than the 3.0-liter, supercharged V6, which is a real treat. The cabin is elegantly modern and quiet, with very supportive seats, but rear-seat and cargo space are modest. The infotainment system has a steep learning curve, but ultimately proves logical. A sportier 354-hp SQ5 and a hybrid are available. The diesel version is under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emissions regulations.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $40,900-$60,800 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 2.0T, Hybrid, 3.0T, SQ5 Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (220 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (245 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (272 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (354 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Audi Q5

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,190 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,045 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 4,410

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 61

Audi Q7

Audi TT

udi’s redesign of its luxury three-row SUV has resulted in a lighter-weight SUV that sits lower than the previous generation. It employs Audi’s supercharged 3.0-liter V6, which puts out 333 hp and is mated to a supersmooth eight-speed automatic. The result is effortless acceleration, and fuel economy of 20 mpg overall in our tests. The new Q7 is very quiet, instilling a sense of calm and tranquility. Ride comfort is commendable, and if you splurge for the Prestige trim with the optional air suspension, it has the plushness and control of a luxury car. Handling is responsive and confidence-inspiring for such a large vehicle. The beautifully finished interior exudes luxury, with excellent seats and a vivid, high-tech digital instrument cluster. But it is a steep learning curve to master the controls.

OVERALL SCORE 87 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 81 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

96 Std./4

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $54,800-$64,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (333 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,080 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,365 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 35.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,700

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

62 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

he TT coupe and convertible use a 220-hp, 2.0-liter fourcylinder, while the TTS features a 292 hp version. The sixspeed automated manual transmission swaps gears quickly, but some vibration is noticeable at very low speeds. The car feels nimble and entertaining, diving into corners with enthusiasm and a dash of steering feedback. The ride is firm, but not punishing, and noise is kept at bay. Inside the snug interior is Audi’s new customizable 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, which replaces all conventional gauges and the typical mid-dash screen. HVAC and seat-heat controls are all incorporated into the different dash vents. Overall, the TT is more about style and technology than visceral sporty performance.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Audi Q7 13

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $43,500-$52,500 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: 2.0T, TTS 2.0T Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (220 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (292 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System Fuel System

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,140 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

BMW 2 Series

BMW 3 Series

his small coupe is exhilarating to drive, with razor-sharp handling and a sporty feel that is missing in other recent BMWs. For 2017, the 228i is renamed the 230i and comes with a 248-hp, 2.0-liter fourcylinder; the uplevel M235i we tested, now named M40i, has a terrific 320-hp, 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder that responds instantly to every prod of the throttle. A 365-hp M2 version with even sportier handling is available. The six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions are slick and smooth. The excellent front seats have ample space, but the rears are very cramped. Interior appointments are first-rate, but the iDrive control system takes time to fully master. All-wheel drive and a convertible are both available. Reliability has been much better than average.

OVERALL SCORE 94 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 75-77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $32,850-$51,700 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: 230i, M240i, M2 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (248 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (335 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (365 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

BMW 2 Series 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,450 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 805 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS * &5 NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

84-86

CRASH PREVENTION

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RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

he 3 Series boasts commendable ride comfort, noise isolation, and interior fit and finish. For 2017, the turbo four-cylinder 328i is renamed 330i and gained a few more horsepower. The 328i that we tested is quick yet returns a frugal 28 mpg overall. Handling is very capable, but isn’t as sharp as past BMWs and overall the 3 Series isn’t as engaging to drive as earlier versions. BMW aims to sharpen agility with steering and suspension changes for 2016. Despite some diesel clatter, the 328d gets a standout 35 mpg overall, and its 49 mpg on the highway gives it an impressive range of 735 miles. You can also choose a hybrid, wagon, and less powerful 320i. The M3 can give ultra-high-performance cars a run for their money. 2016 brings a new six-cylinder engine and a plug-in hybrid.

Base Price: $33,150-$64,000 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan; wagon Trim Lines: 320i, 330i, 328d, 330e, 340i, M3 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (180 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbodiesel (180 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (248 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (248 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (320 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (425 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,485 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-35

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

BMW 3 Series 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 63

BMW 4 Series

BMW 5 Series

he 4 Series coupe, convertible, and four-door Gran Coupe hatchback based on the 3 Series sedans pack in healthy doses of style, luxury, and exclusivity. Lower and wider than the 3 Series, the plush and comfortable 4 Series is more of a grand touring car rather than a pure sportster. Yet it is quite capable. Handling is lithe, the ride is steady, and the interior is luxuriant. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is sparing with fuel; the 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo is supersmooth and delivers effortless punch. All-wheel drive is optional. The convertible version uses a retractable hardtop that can be operated at slow speeds. The ultra-high-performance M4 is a track-ready version.

Base Price: $41,650-$74,700 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; convertible; coupe Trim Lines: 430i, 440i, M4 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (248 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (320 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (425 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 66 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

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CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,470 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 790 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

64 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

BMW 4 Series 13

Engine Major

Drive System

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

o matter your tastes, the 5 Series offers an engine to satisfy your appetite. In our tests, the turbo six-cylinder in the 535i delivered strong, smooth acceleration, and the eight-speed automatic shifted imperceptibly. At 23 mpg overall, fuel economy is commendable for such a quick and substantial sedan. Frugal-minded buyers can get a hybrid or diesel model; autobahn-stormers can opt for the M5 and its 560-hp 4.4-liter turbo V8. The ride is elegant and composed. But while handling is taut, the car’s vague steering hurts its fun-to-drive quotient. Interior fit and finish is excellent, but the controls take some getting used to and rear-seat room isn’t very generous. Reliability has dropped to below average. A redesign is imminent.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 3 & & 3

Average 3

Base Price: $50,000-$95,000E Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 528i, 535i, 535d, 550i, M5 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbodiesel (255 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (300 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (445 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (560 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

BMW 5 Series

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,035 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,060 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &3 & 5 & 5 &1

Worse than average 2 ConsumerReports.org/cars

BMW 6 Series

BMW 7 Series

ased on the 5 Series, this sleek grand tourer comes as a two-door coupe or convertible, as well as the four-door Gran Coupe version. Power comes from a 3.0-liter, turbocharged six-cylinder or a 4.4-liter V8, mated to either an eight-speed automatic or a seven-speed automated manual in the M6. The V8 delivers ferocious acceleration and an invigorating exhaust note. Handling is much sharper than the 5 Series, making the big coupe more of a driver’s car than its progenitor. The M version is even more performance-oriented. It’s quick, capable, and enjoyable to drive.

Base Price: $77,600-$122,500 Body Styles: convertible; coupe; sedan Trim Lines: 640i, 650i, M6, Alpina B6 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter 6 turbo (315 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (445 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (560 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (600 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 8-speed automatic

mong ultra-luxury sedans, the BMW 7 Series has always played second fiddle to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Fully redesigned for 2016, the new 7 is lighter and nimbler, with an impressively steady ride. The base 740i is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder. Our typically equipped 750i, with the polished and punchy 445-hp, 4.4-liter turbo V8 and all-wheel drive, rang in at $110,645. The luxurious interior is impeccable, with supremely comfortable seats. Rear-seat dignitaries enjoy a ton of room, a massage feature, and the ability to control climate, audio, and sunshades. Interior quality is superb, with the wood, leather, suede, and aluminum trim delivering a modern ambience without looking glitzy. More powerful V8 and V12 versions, as well as a hybrid, are new for 2017.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 87 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

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CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Base Price: $81,500-$137,000 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 740i, 750i, 740e, M760i, Alpina B7 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter 6 turbo (320 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (326 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (445 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (600 hp); 6.6-liter V12 turbo (600 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

NOT

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,355 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA

Opt.

Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,710 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 960 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 65

BMW i3

BMW X1

MW’s electric car is a rear-wheel-drive, four-seat hatchback with rear-hinged back doors. The electric motor produces the equivalent of 170 hp, which makes this tall, narrow car feel quick. An optional two-cylinder engine, which acts as an onboard generator rather than a primary power source, extends the range beyond the typical 75 miles to about 130 miles total. Charge times are about 4 hours with a 240-volt connection. In our tests we measured the electric equivalent of 139 mpg. Despite its tall stance the i3 is very agile and easy to maneuver, though the ride is quite firm. It takes time to get used to the pronounced deceleration when lifting off the accelerator pedal. Reliability has been below average.

OVERALL SCORE 64 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $43,600-$47,450 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: Mega, Giga, Tera Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 0.7-liter 2 + electric (170 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

TROUBLE SPOTS

BMW i3 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,140 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 45/55 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 650 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

66 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Worse than average 2

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Engine Cooling

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

he X1 uses a new platform and architecture shared with the Mini Clubman. While initially only offered with all-wheel drive, for 2017 a less-expensive front-wheel-drive version joins the line. In our tests of the AWD X1 the responsive 228-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine returned 26 mpg overall. With a relatively low ride height, it almost feels like driving a BMW sedan. Although capable and responsive, ride and handling are more ordinary than sporty. Road noise is rather noticeable. The interior is typical BMW, with highquality materials and switchgear. The front seats are rather short and flat, however, while rear-seat passengers hit their shins against the backs for the front seats. Prices start at an inviting $32,800, but a typically equipped X1 easily breaks the $40,000 mark.

Base Price: $32,800-$34,800 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: sDrive28i, xDrive28i Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (228 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

BMW X1

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,725 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

BMW X3

BMW X4

his is one of the best upscale SUVs, melding SUV utility with luxury car attributes and driving fun. It has precise handling and a composed ride, although the body tends to rock side-to-side on uneven pavement. The 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder returned a very good 23 mpg overall and the eight-speed automatic shifts seamlessly. But this engine is a bit short on refinement, with a diesel-like clatter. The six-cylinder in the 35i is silky smooth. The interior is beautifully finished, with firm and supportive front seats. The rear seat is roomy, though the cushion is a bit low. Some controls take time to master, and despite the X3’s price, the must-have rear-view camera is optional. A diesel and a rear-drive version are available.

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

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CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $38,950-$47,645 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: sDrive28i, xDrive28i, xDrive28d, xDrive35i Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbodiesel (180 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 3.0liter 6 turbo (300 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,135 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

mphasizing sport over utility, the X4 is a coupelike variant of the X3. It’s agile, rides tautly, and has a beautifully trimmed cabin. Seating is a bit lower than in the X3, which instills a more sporty experience. Cargo and rear-seat space under the sloping roofline is considerably smaller than in the X3, making the X4 a less practical SUV. Engine choices are a 240-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder that is particularly smooth and powerful. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. In our brief time with the X4 we found that the optional 19-inch tires make the ride a bit too jiggly. A higher-performance M40i uses a 355-hp version of the turbo six-cylinder.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

BMW X3 13

&5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &5 & 3

Average 3

Base Price: $45,250-$57,800 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: xDrive28i, M40i Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (355 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,130 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 67

BMW X5

BMW X6

he X5 delivers a refined driving experience. Its 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder, paired to a silky-smooth eight-speed automatic, supplies effortless acceleration and a good 21 mpg overall. In our tests we found the ride to be steady, with handling responsive and secure. The interior is super-quiet and impeccably finished, and the seats are super comfortable and supportive. But the optional third-row seat is suitable only for kids. BMW’s iDrive infotainment system is more intuitive now, but still requires a learning curve. Optional safety systems are comprehensive. A 4.4-liter V8 and a diesel are available. A plug-in hybrid with a 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder can drive on electric power for short distances. Reliability has dropped to below average.

Base Price: $55,500-$98,800 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: sDrive35i, xDrive35i, xDrive35d, xDrive50i, xDrive40e, M Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.0-liter 6 turbodiesel (255 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (300 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (308 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (445 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (567 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,745 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,345 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 34.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . 6,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

68 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

BMW X5

Engine Major

Fuel System

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

his coupelike sporty SUV is based on the smooth and capable X5, which is a good place to start. Unlike its sibling, the styling severely hampers rear visibility, cabin access, and cargo room in the X6. More than just a new body, though, the X6 is sportier than the X5, with tauter handling and a slightly stiffer ride. Most versions are powered by a 3.0-liter, turbocharged six-cylinder, which returned 21 mpg overall in our tested X5. A 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 is also offered. The interior is luxurious and well crafted, and the seats are supportive for long trips. Some controls, however, take time to master. A rear-wheel-drive version is also available.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 2 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &5 &5 &5 &5 & 5 &4 & 5 & 3

Worse than average 2

Base Price: $61,400-$102,200 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: sDrive35i, xDrive35i, xDrive50i, M Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter 6 turbo (300 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (445 hp); 4.4-liter V8 turbo (567 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System Fuel System

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,750 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

BMW Z4

Buick Cascada

he Z4 looks sharp but isn’t as entertaining as we expect a sports car to be. Handling is secure, but vague steering, a penchant for pushing wide through corners, and a jittery ride undermine the fun factor. Its 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder is plenty powerful and returned 28 mpg overall, but it has a diesel-like idle. The six-speed manual feels crisp and is easy to shift. An eightspeed automatic is optional, as are powerful six-cylinder engines that come with a seven-speed sequential transmission. The wellfinished cabin has plenty of leg and head room but feels narrow. The iDrive infotainment system can be fussy to use, especially when the Z4 is equipped with a manual transmission. The retractable hardtop keeps it fairly quiet inside.

Base Price: $49,700-$66,350 Body Styles: convertible Trim Lines: sDrive28i, sDrive35i, sDrive35is Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (300 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (335 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

he front-wheel-drive Cascada is a four-seat soft-top convertible. It’s a well thought out convertible with a fully-insulated top and responsive handling. The ride is steady but can be a bit stiff due to the standard 20 inch tires. The leather seats are supportive but it’s a long reach to access the touchscreen infotainment system, and the center dash is a mess of buttons. The power-operated fabric roof takes 17 seconds to open, and can be opened or closed at speeds up to 31 mph. Rear-seat access is made easier by front seats that power-slide forward. A partition in the truck can be flipped to increase cargo room when the top is raised. Safety equipment includes forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning if you opt for the Premium trim.

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

Base Price: $33,065-$36,065 Body Styles: convertible Trim Lines: Base, Premium Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 turbo (200 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Transmission Major

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,240 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 47/53 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 560 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

Engine Major

Transmission Major

Fuel System

ConsumerReports.org/cars

TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Cooling

Drive System

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,980 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 740 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 69

Buick Enclave

Buick Encore

ven though it is showing its age, the large Enclave remains a competitive three-row SUV. We liked its firm, comfortable ride and secure handling. The cabin is quiet, the interior is nicely finished, and the seats are comfortable. But the outdated controls and limited feature content make the Enclave a less compelling option, and a redesign is on the horizon. The 3.6-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission are smooth and unobtrusive, but the engine feels taxed and at times the powertrain has to work hard to move this large SUV. We got a paltry 15 mpg overall in our tests, worse than some pickup trucks. Adults can fit in the roomy third row, a plus. Forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems are available.

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $39,065-$49,515 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Convenience, Leather, Premium Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (288 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Buick Enclave

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,100 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,335 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

70 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

erived from the small Chevrolet Sonic, this subcompact SUV feels relatively posh, with a well-finished, quiet cabin and a ride that’s better than some bigger SUVs. On the downside, the little 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder and six-speed automatic deliver plodding acceleration and just fair fuel economy. The Encore’s tidy size makes it easy to maneuver and its handling is sound, if unexceptional. Despite the luxury ambience, the interior is narrow and cramped, and the swoopy styling intrudes on the view aft. Reliability has been much above average, but the Encore scored too low in our testing to be recommended. The 2017 Encore gets a light refresh, with LED headlights, improved interior materials, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto supported by a standard 8-inch touchscreen.

Base Price: $24,065-$31,285 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Convenience, Sport Touring, Leather, Premium Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (138 hp); 1.4-liter 4 turbo (153 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Buick Encore

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,355 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 945 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Buick Envision

Buick LaCrosse

uick’s entry into the luxury compact SUV segment sits between the tiny Encore and giant Encalve, the new China-built Envision uses a smooth and quiet 252-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Handling is rather clumsy, however, and wind noise is pronounced. Oddly, the ride is a mixed bag of soft, yet busy. The interior is well-finished and features a relatively roomy rear seat. Buick’s suite of active safety equipment includes standard forward-collision warning and lane-departure mitigation systems, as well as optional automatic braking. A lessexpensive 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a front-wheel-drive version will arrive at a later date.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $34,990-$44,960 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Convenience, Leather, Premium I, Premium II Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (197 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (252 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

he redesign of Buick’s flagship rests on a new structure that brings more and less to the big sedan. A diet has reduced the hefty sedan’s weight by 300 pounds. Yet Buick was able to stretch the wheelbase by three inches, resulting in more passenger space, while keeping the footprint the same. Under the hood, a revised 3.6liter V6 makes 305 hp, mated to an eight-speed automatic. Inside, there’s an 8-inch touchscreen, fewer buttons, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The current LaCrosse is one of the quietest and more comfortable-riding models in its class. The redesign seems to have improved outward visibility, access, and fuel economy, and the availability of all-wheel drive is a major plus.

Std./3

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $32,990-$42,000E Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Leather, Premium I, Premium II Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (305 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Buick LaCrosse

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Transmission Minor

Fuel System

Drive System

Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,050 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Drive System

Regular or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Brakes

Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 1

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 71

Buick Regal

Buick Verano

his well-honed and satisfying sports sedan has a European feel thanks to its Opel roots. It is the antithesis of the whitewalltired Buick of old. With its agile handling, quick steering, and a taut, steady ride, the Regal is one of Buick’s best offerings. The 259-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder delivers strong performance and 24 mpg overall. High-quality materials are used throughout the cabin. The front seats are firm and supportive, though the rear seat is quite snug. The large trunk is a bonus. Infotainment system controls are mostly simple, and all-wheel drive is available on all trim lines. Overall, this is a highly capable, yet understated car. The GS is a sportier version with a tauter suspension.

OVERALL SCORE 78 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $27,065-$36,490 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Premium I, Premium II, GS Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (182 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (259 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Buick Regal

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,710 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

72 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

he Verano is based on the previous generation Chevrolet Cruze, and tries to pack luxury into a compact package. A high point is its commendably quiet cabin. Power from the 2.4-liter four-cylinder is adequate, but the engine sounds raspy and its 24 mpg overall is among the worst in the class. An available 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder makes the car quicker and quieter. It rides relatively comfortably, and handling is responsive though not as sporty as the Regal’s. The interior is roomy enough up front, but very cramped in the rear. The lack of power recline and adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat is chintzy. Forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems are readily available. 2017 marks the final model year for the Verano.

Base Price: $21,065-$28,670 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 1SV, Base, Convenience, Leather, Premium Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (180 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (250 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Buick Verano

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,465 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 2 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Cadillac ATS

Cadillac CT6

ffered in rear- or all-wheel drive, the ATS has nimble, capable handling and sharp steering that makes it a treat to drive. Three engines are offered: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 3.6-liter V6, and a 2.0liter turbo four-cylinder. The turbo is quick, but doesn’t feel powerful and got just 23 mpg overall. The six-speed automatic is a step behind the seven and eight speeds of most competitors. A manual is available. The ride is taut, and braking is excellent. However, the Cue infotainment system, with its flush buttons, is very convoluted and frustrating to use. The interior is well-finished but very snug. The high-performance ATS-V gets a 464-hp, twin-turbo V6. Reliability has remained much below average.

OVERALL SCORE 57 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $33,215-$62,665 Body Styles: coupe; sedan Trim Lines: Standard, Luxury, Performance, Premium, V Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (202 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (272 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (335 hp); 3.6-liter V6 turbo (464 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Cadillac ATS 13

&2 & 1 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 1 & 1

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,420 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 870 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &2 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ConsumerReports.org/cars

adillac’s new flagship fits above the CTS and below the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Its lightweight aluminum and steel body is 400 pounds lighter than those cars in an effort to make the CT6 sporty and fuel-efficient. In our brief experience we found that this large sedan possesses some athletic chops and has a steady, controlled ride and a quiet interior. Most buyers will opt for the mid-level nonturbo V6, while the top trim carries a 404-hp twinturbocharged V6. The eight-speed automatic is smooth and responsive. All-wheel drive comes standard with the V6s. The interior is posh and well finished, but cabin storage is a bit scant and the car is still saddled with Cadillac’s tedious Cue infotainment touch screen.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $53,495-$87,465 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Luxury, Premium Luxury, Platinum Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (265 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (335 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (404 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,040 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .910 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 73

Cadillac CTS

Cadillac Escalade

he CTS is a luxury sedan with a firm, absorbent ride and precise handling that crowns it as one of the sportiest cars in the class. But as satisfying as it is to drive, the CTS can also be frustrating. Much of the blame goes to the overly complex Cue infotainment system. The cabin is luxurious, with impressive material quality. But rear-seat room is snug and the trunk is relatively small. Neither the four-cylinder turbo nor the 3.6-liter V6 is as refined as the best in class. The high-end V-Sport is better, with effortless thrust. The high-performance CTS-V gives any $100,000 German super-sedan a run for its money, thanks to the 640-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 from the Corvette Z06 and trackworthy handling and braking.

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 44 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $45,560-$69,955 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Luxury, Performance, Premium, Vsport, CTS-V Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (272 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (335 hp); 3.6-liter V6 turbo (420 hp); 6.2-liter V8 supercharged (640 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,915 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 890 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

74 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Cadillac CTS 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

he Escalade falls down on the fundamentals as a luxury SUV; It rides too stiffly and can’t stop or handle with the grace of its peers. Despite casting a massive shadow, the Cadillac is not even that roomy inside. The second-row seats aren’t very comfortable, and the third row is cramped. For those who want more space, there is the longer ESV version that provides more cargo space. The Cue infotainment system is confounding. The real strength of the Escalade is in its work abilities, with a powerful 420-hp V8 and impressive tow capacity. Reliability of the redesign has been well below average, ranking worst in class. We consider a well-trimmed Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon XL to be a smarter buy.

Base Price: $72,970-$94,950 Body Styles: 4-door SUV; extended SUV Trim Lines: Standard, Luxury, Premium, Platinum Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Cadillac Escalade

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 3 & 1

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,820 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,310 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 8,100

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS * * &1 NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Cadillac XT5

Cadillac XTS

he XT5 is Cadillac’s new luxury crossover and replaces the heavy and dated SRX. All versions use the same smooth and refined powertrain: a new 3.6-liter V6 paired with an eight-speed automatic. Despite similar dimensions, XT5 is lighter and roomier than the SRX. Cadillac’s convoluted Cue infotainment system is a little more manageable, but the gears are selected via a completely unintuitive shifter. A rear-camera system that displays in the rear view mirror comes on top versions. The XT5 handles with agility, though the ride is rather stiff unless you opt for the active damping suspension that comes on top-trim versions. Occupants are treated to a quiet cabin, supportive seats, and impressive cabin fit and finish.

Base Price: $38,995-$62,500 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Premium, Luxury, Premium Luxury, Platinum Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (310 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

his large sedan has a beautifully executed interior, perfect for limo duty. The XTS is roomy, luxurious, and quiet inside, with comfortable seats. But the ride feels too ordinary for a luxury car, and handling isn’t sporty. The powertrain lacks the finesse and brawn of some German and Asian competitors. The 3.6-liter V6 sounds coarse when prodded, though it ultimately performs well and returns a respectable 22 mpg overall. The unintuitive Cue infotainment system is frustrating to use, and the high rear deck impedes the view aft. We disliked the blind-spot warning system, which vibrates the driver’s seat. A V-Sport version with a twin-turbo 3.6-liter engine gives the XTS V8-like power. Reliability has remained below average.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 62 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $45,295-$72,320 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Standard, Luxury, Premium, Platinum, Vsport Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (304 hp); 3.6liter V6 turbo (410 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,300 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,620 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Cadillac XTS

Transmission Major

Drive System

Fuel System

Electrical

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor

Fuel System

Brakes

Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,090 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Drive System

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 1 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Worse than average 2

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 75

Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet Colorado

or 2016 the redesigned Camaro ratchets up both performance and sophistication. It is lighter, shorter, narrower, and lower than the previous car. These benefits come to light with impressive handling agility and sharp steering. The optional magnetic ride suspension impressively keeps the car planted. The manual shifter has light, precise throws. Base models use a 275-hp, turbo four-cylinder, while the new 3.6-liter V6 makes 335 hp. For the SS, Chevrolet dropped in the ferocious 6.2-liter V8 from the Corvette. All use a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. The higher-quality interior features the easy-to-use MyLink infotainment system. Visibility is atrocious and rear-seat room is extremely tight. A performance ZL1 version will arrive as a 2017 model with 640-hp, 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine and available 10-speed automatic.

Base Price: $25,700-$48,300 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: LT, SS Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (275 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (335 hp); 6.2-liter V8 (455 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 51 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Camaro

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,730 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .725 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

76 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

M’s small pickups, the Colorado and its GMC Canyon twin, are more maneuverable than full-sized trucks and better equipped than their Nissan and Toyota competitors. Buyers can choose a 200-hp four-cylinder or a 305-hp V6, both backed by a standard six-speed automatic. The ride is rather choppy, as befitting a pickup, but handling is responsive. Rear- and fourwheel-drive versions are available, as are extended and crew-cab body styles. Inside are the latest electronics, including the MyLink audio system. These are the first small trucks to offer forwardcollision and lane-departure warnings, and a backup camera is standard. A 181-hp four-cylinder diesel is new. First-year reliability has been much below average.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&3 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Worse than average 2

Base Price: $20,100-$35,300 Body Styles: extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: Base, WT, LT, Z71 Drive Wheels: Rear or part-time 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.8-liter 4 turbodiesel (181 hp); 2.5-liter 4 (200 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (305 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

69 Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Colorado 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,500 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,555 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular or diesel CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Chevrolet Corvette

Chevrolet Cruze

he sharp-edged Corvette has abundant power from its 455-hp, 6.2-liter V8 and an interior worthy of the price. A seven-speed manual is standard, with an eight-speed automatic optional. Drivers with a thirst for more power can opt for the 650-hp Z06. The car’s all-aluminum construction optimizes weight savings and strength. Whether in coupe or convertible form, acceleration is blisteringly quick, and handling is pinpoint. With the adjustable driving modes the car can be a fairly refined cruiser or track-ready race car. The seats deliver support and comfort. But you can’t ignore the lowslung cabin, which requires near-acrobatic skills to access, the vague manual shifter, and the omnipresent tire noise. Reliability has dropped to well below average.

Base Price: $55,400-$83,400 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; convertible Trim Lines: 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, Z06 Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 6.2-liter V8 (455 hp); 6.2-liter V8 (460 hp); 6.2-liter V8 supercharged (650 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 64 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 66 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Corvette

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 2 & 5 & 2 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

& 5 2 & 2 & &5 &5 &5 &5 2 & 2 & &5 &5 & 2 &5 2 & &5 2 & & 2

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,470 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .525 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &3 &3 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he redesigned 2016 Cruze is roomier, especially in the rear seat, and gets better fuel economy than its predecessor. The standard 1.4-liter, four-cylinder turbo, mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, delivers effortless motivation. It has an unobstrusive stop-start feature designed to reduce fuel use when the car would otherwise be idling. We got 30 mpg overall. The new Cruze has a comfortable ride and a quiet cabin, and is designed more for relaxed cruising than sporty handling. A new infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, mirrors your cell-phone screen on the dashboard. A variety of advanced active safety features are available, unfortunately only on the top-trim Premier version.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $16,620-$25,335 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: L, LS, LT, Premier Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (153 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Cruze

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,915 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 870 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Worse than average 2

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 77

Chevrolet Equinox

Chevrolet Impala

he Equinox and its twin, the GMC Terrain, straddle the small and midsized SUV categories. They have a taut, yet supple and controlled, ride with responsive and secure handling. But both the 3.6liter V6 and the more fuel-efficient four-cylinder feel sluggish. The transmission blunts the performance of the V6, and fuel economy is mediocre. The 2016 models get a smattering of cosmetic updates, and additional advanced safety features, including available blindspot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, join the forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems. A rear-view camera is standard. Reliability has been above average, but the Equinox scored too low in our testing for us to recommend.

OVERALL SCORE 71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 81 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

68-69

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $25,410-$31,690 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: L, LS, LT, LTZ Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (182 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (301 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Equinox

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,155 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,040 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 33.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

78 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-21

ur 2016 Top Pick for large sedans, the Impala is roomy, comfortable, quiet, and enjoyable to drive. It even rides like a luxury sedan, feeling cushy and controlled. Engine choices include a punchy 3.6-liter V6 and an adequate 2.5-liter four-cylinder, both paired with a six-speed automatic. In our tests, the V6 returned 22 mpg overall and had good acceleration. Braking is capable, while handling is secure and responsive. The full-featured cabin stays very quiet, and features a sumptuous backseat and a huge trunk. Controls are intuitive and easy to use, but rear visibility is restricted. Advanced electronic safety features are readily available. Updates for 2016 include Apple CarPlay capability and wireless cell-phone charging.

Base Price: $27,095-$35,540 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: LS, 1LT, 2LT, 1LTZ, 2LTZ Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (196 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (230 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (305 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Impala

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,855 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 945 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or cng CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 1 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 &2

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

woopy styling and modern powertrains are highlights of Chevrolet’s redesigned midsized sedan. The new sedan has more rear-seat room, so long-legged passengers can stretch out. Up front is a roomy, comfortable cockpit and an updated version of Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system. Two four-cylinder turbo engines are offered: a 1.5liter with a six-speed automatic, and more powerful and refined 2.0-liter backed by an eight-speed automatic. We got 29 mpg overall in our test of the 1.5-liter. A new hybrid version, utilizing some of the Chevrolet Volt technology, is also available. In tests we found the Malibu quiet, with a comfortable ride and responsive handling. The old car has been renamed Malibu Limited and is now sold mainly for fleets.

Base Price: $23,120-$30,920 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: L, LS, LT, Hybrid, Premier Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 4 turbo (163 hp); 1.8-liter 4 hybrid (182 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (250 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Malibu

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,125 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he Silverado and similar GMC Sierra have relatively responsive handling and a roomy cabin that is as quiet as a luxury car’s. Cabin access is easy, controls simple, and towing and payload capacities generous. Fuel economy from the 5.3-liter V8 crew cab we tested was 16 mpg overall, but the truck feels sluggish. Other engines include a 4.3-liter V6 and powerful 6.2-liter V8. Some shortcomings include a jittery ride and front seats that aren’t as supportive as those in some competitors. For 2016 more versions will get the eight-speed automatic, which should improve engine response. Other changes include available lane-keeping assist, and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. Reliability has remained much below average.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

Average 3

Base Price: $27,195-$53,415 Body Styles: regular cab; extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: WT, LS, Custom, LT, LTZ, High Country Drive Wheels: Rear, part-time, or selectable 4WD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear Engines: 4.3-liter V6 (285 hp); 5.3liter V8 (355 hp); 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 &5 &5 & 3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,415 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,705 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . 11,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &2 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 79

Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet Spark

he subcompact Sonic is fairly quick and quiet for the class. It handles responsively, although the steering is a bit darty. The standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder performs well but doesn’t sound that polished. A modestly quicker and thriftier turbo four-cylinder is offered on the uplevel version. The sedan has a huge trunk and better visibility, but the hatchback has better cargo versatility. Both have a tight rear seat. Crash-test results are impressive for a subcompact. The infotainment touch screen system is infuriating, with a convoluted menu and slow response time. Advanced safety features such as forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, and a backup camera are available. Reliability has improved to average.

OVERALL SCORE 61-65 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &V

OVERALL SCORE 48 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

60-66

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $14,345-$21,495 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: LS, LT, LTZ, RS Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (138 hp); 1.8-liter 4 (138 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Sonic

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,765 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 895 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

80 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 3 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-30

ith a slightly longer wheelbase and lower roof, the redesigned 2016 Spark looks less goofy. Power comes from a 98-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder that delivers leisurely acceleration along with plenty of engine drone. Handling is very responsive but the darty steering makes it feel unsettling at speed. The ride is unyieldingly stiff. Inside, the elevated seating position gives the driver a commanding view out. The rear seat, however, is better suited for a backpack. The MyLink infotainment system has a 7-inch color display, making the Spark up-to-date on the connectivity front. Other updates include forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning.

Base Price: $12,660-$25,510 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: LS, 1LT, 2LT Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 (98 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,280 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 64/36 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 660 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Chevrolet SS

Chevrolet Suburban

ou can think of the seemingly nondescript SS as a stealth weapon: A serious performance car cloaked in an innocuous exterior with a spacious, comfortable cabin. Its ferocious speed, sporty handling, and fantastic brakes keep pace with many high-end sports sedans. The rear-drive SS comes fully loaded and is powered by a burbling 415-hp, 6.2-liter V8 from the last-generation Corvette. Fuel economy isn’t its forte: We got a paltry 17 mpg overall with the automatic. Controls are simple, and standard safety gear includes forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert. The firm but tolerable ride is a modest drawback for this kind of performance. A six-speed manual is available.

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

OVERALL SCORE 54 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

87 Std./3

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $46,575 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 6.2-liter V8 (415 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

f you need space for seven or more people, all their stuff, and towing capacity to boot, little else but the Suburban will do. This behemoth has a sumptuous and quiet interior, power folding second- and third-row seats, and available blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert. Beyond that, it’s pretty much your standard hauler, with a 5.3liter V8 mated to a six-speed automatic, and a respectable 16 mpg overall. The touch-screen infotainment system is easy to use, and the magnetic ride suspension on LTZ trims improves ride comfort and handling response and capability. 2016 updates include available lane-keeping assist, plus Apple CarPlay. Reliability of the redesign has been much below average.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $49,700-$67,440 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LS, LT, LTZ Drive Wheels: Rear or selectable 4WD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.3-liter V8 (355 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Transmission Major

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,025 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ConsumerReports.org/cars

DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Fuel System

ENOUGH

Brakes Exhaust

Chevrolet Suburban

Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor

NOT

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 3 & &5 &5 &4 3 & &5 &5 &5 &4 &5 &5 &5 & 3 &5 2 & & 1

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,945 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,455 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 62.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .8,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &4 1 & VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 81

Chevrolet Tahoe

Chevrolet Traverse

he Tahoe has a luxurious and quiet interior, decent secondand third-row seats, and available features such as blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert. Beyond that, fuel economy from the 5.3-liter V8 and six-speed automatic is 16 mpg. But the engine doesn’t feel responsive enough in everyday driving. The touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use. The ride is stiff, although the Magnetic Ride Control suspension on LTZ trims improves ride comfort and handling response and capability. Properly equipped versions can tow 8,500 pounds. But car-based SUVs have better handling and are more efficient. Lane-keeping assist is available. Reliability of the redesign has been much below average.

OVERALL SCORE 52 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 74 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $47,000-$64,740 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LS, LT, LTZ Drive Wheels: Rear or selectable 4WD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.3-liter V8 (355 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Tahoe

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 &4 2 & 3 &

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,635 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,580 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 47.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .8,300

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &5 1 & VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

82 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

lthough it dates back to 2008, the large Traverse is still a competitive three-row SUV. We liked its firm, comfortable, and quiet ride and its relatively agile, secure handling. But like its corporate cousins, the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, it’s beginning to show its age. The 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic powertrain is smooth and powerful enough, but it works hard in this large SUV, and its 16 mpg overall is uncompetitive. A big plus is the ability to fit adults in the roomy third row. Fit and finish has been improved, and forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems are available. A redesign is around the corner, based on the same platform as the GMC Acadia.

Base Price: $31,205-$44,145 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LS, LT, LTZ Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (281 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (288 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chevrolet Traverse

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,975 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,405 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 48.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4 & 5 & 5 & 5

Better than average 4 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Chevrolet Trax

Chevrolet Volt

his bite-sized crossover, essentially a stripped-down Buick Encore, is an ambitiously priced budget model. Available in front- or all-wheel drive, the Trax has a 1.4-liter turbo fourcylinder and six-speed automatic, which didn’t deliver impressive performance or particularly frugal fuel economy. The cabin is narrow, cramped, and overall basic, with just a few niceties. Pronounced engine noise and a stiff ride don’t add to the experience, nor does the occasionally bumpy transmission. The Trax features the nextgeneration versions of OnStar and MyLink infotainment systems. At $26,000, our Trax LT AWD test car costs as much as larger, more substantial SUVs such as the Subaru Forester.

Base Price: $20,300-$26,730 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LS, LT, LTZ Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (138 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

M’s electric car with a backup gas engine gets a total redesign for 2016. It is quicker, quieter, rides more comfortably, and has easier-touse controls. The Volt drives on electric power for about 50 miles, at which point the engine kicks in to extend the range. It takes 4.5 hours to recharge the car using a 240V connection. The Volt can be driven as an electric car locally, and can rely on the gas engine for extended trips. This new 1.5-liter engine acts as a generator, which eliminates the range anxiety common to electric-only vehicles. Driver visibility is still hampered but the infotainment system is now easy to use, with plenty of steering-wheel shortcuts. The center-rear seating position is quite snug, and the heated seats and steering wheel are needed because of the car’s tepid heat.

OVERALL SCORE 53 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

Base Price: $33,220-$37,570 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: LT, Premier Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 4 + electric (149 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

Engine Minor

Transmission Major

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,255 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 945 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Major

Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System

Fuel System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Drive System

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,520 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 750 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg (elec./gas). . . . . . . 105/38

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Chevrolet Volt 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 2 & &5 &5 & 1

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 83

Chrysler 200

Chrysler 300

mediocre car in a category overflowing with competent, and even excellent, alternatives, the 200 drives like it’s from a previous era. Handling is clumsy, the ride is rough and unsettled, and the four-cylinder engine is underwhelming. But the V6 is fairly polished and can be had with AWD. Not only is the transmission uncooperative, but it has proven to be a reliability albatross. A relatively quiet cabin is the only consolation. Sitting in the tight rear seat feels claustrophobic and access is compromised. The 200 has the dubious distinction of carrying the lowest overall road test score in the class, as well as the lowest predicted reliability rating. The 200 will be phased out after the 2017 model year.

OVERALL SCORE 51-53 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 60 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

63-66

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $21,995-$31,785 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: LX, Limited, S, C Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (184 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (295 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Chrysler Sebring, 200

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 3 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,650 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &2 VERDICTS * &1 NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

84 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

83-84

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-30

hrysler’s roomy and luxurious 300 is one of the best large sedans on the market. Inside, you’ll find plenty of space for five adults, comfortable seats, and attractive trim. The 5.7-liter V8 is punchy, but thirsty. We prefer the 3.6-liter V6, which got a good 22 mpg overall in our tests. Both engines use a smooth eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is optional. A stately ride, responsive handling, and a quiet cabin make the 300 feel like a true luxury car at thousands less than luxury brands charge. The Uconnect infotainment system is one of the best in the industry. The last freshening added a rotating gearshift knob, a big driver-info screen in the gauge cluster, and a host of modern safety gear. Reliability has been much below average.

Base Price: $32,260-$45,190 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Limited, S, C, C Platinum Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (292 hp); 3.6liter V6 (300 hp); 5.7-liter V8 (363 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chrysler 300

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 2 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,095 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-22

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Chrysler Pacifica

Dodge Challenger

he Pacifica replaces the Chrysler Town & Country minivan. The new van is offered in seven- and eight-passenger configurations, and retains the fold into the floor seats. The 3.6-liter V6, paired to a 9-speed automatic, provides ample power. Handling is responsive, the ride is comfortable, and the cabin is quiet. A plug-in hybrid version will be available with a claimed electric range of 50 miles. The power sliding doors can be opened with the press of a small button, making it easy for kids. The latest version of the UConnect touchscreen system is intuitive, and a shifter in the form of a rotating knob. High-end versions will feature individual screens for rear passengers with built-in games. An all-wheel-drive version won’t be available, at least initially.

Base Price: $28,595-$42,495 Body Styles: minivan Trim Lines: LX, Touring, Touring-L, Touring-L Plus, Hybrid, Limited Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.6-liter V6 hybrid (248 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (287 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 9-speed automatic

he look may be old-school, yet the Challenger is a modern, thrilling barnstormer. It’s too heavy and wide for pinpoint handling on narrow roads, but it’s balanced and enjoyable on an open track. The V8 sound is heartwarming. Ride comfort, noise isolation, and the stiff shifter and clutch detract, and the view out is dreadful. The rear seat is relatively roomy but access is awkward. Performance packages include a 485-hp, 6.4-liter V8, and a 707-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 in the Hellcat. A six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic are available. We prefer the 5.7-liter V8 over the base V6. Safety tech includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and forward-collision warning. Reliability has dropped to much below average.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 54 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Chrysler Pacifica 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Base Price: $26,995-$62,495 Body Styles: coupe Trim Lines: SXT, R/T, R/T Plus, SRT Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (305 hp); 5.7liter V8 (375 hp); 6.4-liter V8 (485 hp); 6.2-liter V8 supercharged (707 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

Drive System Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,535 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,300 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,600

Suspension

Fuel Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics USED CAR VERDICTS

NEW CAR PREDICTION

New

TROUBLE SPOTS

Dodge Challenger

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System

Electrical

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Electrical

&5 & 5 & 3 & 2 & 2 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 5 & 1

&2 & 1 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5

&5 & 5 &5 & 5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &4 &5 &4 & 5 &5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,190 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 85

Dodge Charger

Dodge Dart

ike its cousin, the Chrysler 300, the Charger is a big, comfortable cruiser with an array of sophisticated technology on tap. It delivers a comfortable ride, and the quiet cabin is well-equipped, making the Charger a bargain luxury sedan. The 3.6-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic work well, while the 370-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8 packs more punch, at the expense of fuel economy. The power-mad can have a 485-hp 6.4-liter or the Hellcat’s 707-hp supercharged V8. All-wheel drive is optional on mainstream versions. Forward-collision warning, which can slow or bring the vehicle to a full stop to avoid a collision, is available. The welldesigned Uconnect touch-screen infotainment system is optional. Reliability has remained much below average.

OVERALL SCORE 61-62 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 53 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

82-85

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $27,995-$65,945 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: SE, SXT, R/T, SRT Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (292 hp); 5.7liter V8 (370 hp); 6.4-liter V8 (485 hp); 6.2-liter V8 supercharged (707 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Dodge Charger

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 1 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,335 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &3 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-22

86 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

espite some recent updates, the compact Dart still falls short of the big leagues. Strong points include taut handling and a composed ride. In addition, the front cabin is quite spacious and the Uconnect infotainment system on the upper trims is one of the better ones. Despite improvements, the rear-seat accommodations don’t measure up to the class. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder is mated to a smooth six-speed automatic. This combo returned 27 mpg overall in our tests, unimpressive by class standards. Though it lacks refinement, this engine is a better choice than the sluggish base 2.0-liter (which got the same mileage) or the 1.4-liter turbo that’s linked to the dual-clutch transmission. Reliability has been well below average. The Dart will be discontinued after the 2017 model year.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $16,995-$24,395 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: SXT Sport, Turbo, GT Sport Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (160 hp); 2.0-liter 4 (160 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (184 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Dodge Dart

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&4 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 1 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 1

&5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,260 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &2 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Dodge Durango

Dodge Grand Caravan

pacious, quiet, and comfortable, the Durango impressively blends workhorse utility with ample creature comforts. It shares its platform with the Jeep Grand Cherokee but is longer and adds a third-row seat. Handling is responsive. The ride is composed and comfortable, making the Durango feel sophisticated and substantial. The slick eight-speed automatic improved performance and fuel economy with both the V6 and V8 engines. The optional Uconnect 8.4-inch infotainment system is one of the best, with intuitive operation. Cargo room is generous, and the Durango can tow 1,000 to 2,000 pounds more than competitors. Limited visibility is a downside, but a rear-view camera is standard on all but the lowest trim lines. Reliability has been average.

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 62 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $30,495-$44,595 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SXT, SXT Plus, Limited, R/T, Citadel Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (290 hp); 5.7liter V8 (360 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Dodge Durango

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,105 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .6,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

he Dodge Grand Caravan continues on, as its corporate sibling Chrysler Town & Country is redesigned, complete with a new name: Pacifica. The Dodge will offer a lower price point, but there is no escaping that this is an older design that falls short as a family road-trip machine. For instance, the second-row seats are thin, low, and uncomfortable. Although the 283-hp V6 is powerful, the fuel economy is lousy at just 17 mpg overall-the worst among all minivans. And the van scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap frontal crash test. Don’t be swayed by the massive incentives that will likely be available on this minivan, already the cheapest one on the market.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 2 & 3

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4

Average 3

Base Price: $22,595-$31,495 Body Styles: minivan extended Trim Lines: American Value, SE, SXT, R/T Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (283 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Dodge Grand Caravan

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,685 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,150 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 61.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,600

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 1 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 & 5 & 5

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 87

Dodge Journey

Fiat 124

on’t start believing in the Dodge Journey. On paper, this midsized SUV may sound compelling, but in our tests, we found that it has a confining interior, lacks agility, and the V6 delivers the worst fuel economy in its class. Add to that, it suffers from well-below average reliability and poor performance in IIHS small-overlap frontal crash test. But it rides well, the cabin is relatively quiet, and it offers a snug third-row seat. The Journey is late in its model run, with discounts commonplace. But don’t be tempted. This low-rated model is a poor value anywhere--even at the airport rental lot.

Base Price: $20,995-$33,695 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: American Value, SE, SXT, Crossroad, Limited, R/T Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (173 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (283 hp) Transmissions: 4-speed automatic; 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 45 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Dodge Journey

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 2 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 2 & 2 & 4 & 3 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,410 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,165 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &2 &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

88 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ith the Fiat 124 Spider, Mazda and Fiat have collaborated to share the latest MX-5 Miata roadster platform. But the Spider is more than a rebadged Miata. It carries a 160-hp, 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder from the Fiat stable. Like the Miata, it can be paired with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. While that’s a smaller engine than the Mazda’s nonturbo 2.0-liter, the Fiat produces more torque and horsepower. The 124 is longer than the Miata and has a more-upscale interior. Suspension geometry is the same, but Fiat has different tuning in order to deliver ride and handling that reflects the brand. The Fiat will be built at Mazda’s plant in Japan and goes on sale in summer 2016.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $24,995-$28,195 Body Styles: convertible Trim Lines: Classica, Lusso, Abarth Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (160 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,435 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Fiat 500

Fiat 500L

he 500’s alert handling, free-revving engine, and crisp-shifting manual make it engaging to drive. The base engine and manual returned 33 mpg overall, but it lacks low-end thrust. The 135-hp turbo improves the experience. On all versions the ride is choppy and the cabin noisy. Head room up front is good, but some will find the steering wheel too far away and the driving position awkward. The tight rear seats are difficult to access, and the cargo area is miniscule. The convertible top can be pulled back like a sunroof or fully dropped. The Abarth is quick and grips well, while the electric 500e is enjoyable for its silence and efficiency. Reliability has been well below average. The 500 scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

OVERALL SCORE 39-52 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 31 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

52-66

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $16,995-$31,800 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; convertible Trim Lines: Pop, Sport, Lounge, Turbo, Abarth, e Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 (101 hp); .0-liter electric (111 hp); 1.4-liter 4 turbo (135 hp); 1.4-liter 4 turbo (160 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Fiat 500 13

&5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 2 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 2 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 3 & &4 &4 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,415 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 750 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &3 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular or premium or electric CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-34 ConsumerReports.org/cars

his Italian confection feels undercooked and has several significant flaws. It earned a dismal road test score, thanks in part to a stiff ride, flat seats, and an odd driving position. No surprise, owner satisfaction is low--meaning a strong percentage of owners wish they hadn’t bought this hatchback. The 500L also has the worst reliability of any new car in our recent survey. If that still isn’t enough to dissuade you, it scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap frontal test. To its credit, this quasi-wagon responds eagerly in turn, handles securely at its limit, and has a roomy cabin. But it would take more those virtues for this to earn a place on a smart-shopper’s list.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $19,495-$24,795 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: Pop, Easy, Trekking, Urbana, Lounge Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (160 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Fiat 500L 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&4 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 1 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,330 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 22.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 89

Fiat 500X

Ford C-MAX

ith its adorable styling you almost want to hug this latest Fiat. But the more time you spend with it, the more its appeal wanes, thanks to its stiff ride, noisy cabin, restricted visibility, annoying vibration when idling, and unsupportive seats. Styled like a burlier Fiat 500, the X is a sister vehicle to the Jeep Renegade, and it shares some of the same virtues and weaknesses. Both models offer two four-cylinder engines: the 160hp, 1.4-liter turbo and a 180-hp, 2.4-liter. Both are mated to a nine-speed automatic that is neither smooth nor responsive. Fuel economy, at 23 mpg overall, is unimpressive for a vehicle this size. The interior has some flair, and a number of upscale features, such as heated seats, blind-spot warning, and lane-departure warning, are available.

OVERALL SCORE 39 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $20,000-$29,235 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Pop, Easy, Trekking, Lounge, Trekking Plus Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (160 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (180 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 9-speed automatic

ased on the compact Focus, the five-passenger C-Max hybrid is a clever, quiet, spacious, and practical hatchback. It rides well and handles capably. Regenerative braking helps with fuel economy but makes the brake pedal feel touchy. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor deliver adequate acceleration and seamless transitions between gas and electric power, and the C-Max can run in electric mode up to about 40 mph. We measured an excellent 37 mpg overall. The Energi plug-in can travel in electric-only mode for about 18 miles before switching to hybrid operation. It takes 6 hours to charge on 120-volt and 2 hours on 240-volt. Ford’s new Sync 3 infotainment system is standard. Reliability has improved to average.

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $24,170-$31,770 Body Styles: wagon Trim Lines: Hybrid SE, Hybrid SEL, Energi Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 + electric (188 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (188 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Ford C-MAX

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Transmission Minor

Fuel System

Drive System

Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,280 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,080 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . .19.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

90 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Drive System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Brakes

Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,615 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg (gas/elec.) . . . . . . 37/94

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 1 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Ford Edge

Ford Escape

ew and vastly improved, the second-generation Edge carries itself like a pricier European SUV. Based on the commendable Fusion sedan, the Edge likewise delivers a steady, comfortable ride and confident handling that makes it fun to drive. The quiet cabin wouldn’t be out of place in a luxury car. Roomy interior provides comfortable quarters, front and rear, while also delivering generous cargo space. The standard 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder gets 21 mpg and is more pleasant than the 3.5-liter V6. A twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 is offered on the Sport trim. All use a smooth six-speed automatic. Front- and all-wheel drive is available. Safety options include blind-spot monitoring, forward and rear-view cameras, and cross-traffic alert.

Base Price: $28,700-$40,900 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SE, SEL, Titanium, Sport Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (245 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (280 hp); 2.7-liter V6 turbo (315 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 65-68 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

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CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,205 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ConsumerReports.org/cars

or 2017 the Ford Escape gets some major updates, including new 1.5- and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines with start/stop capability, and advanced safety features such as forward-collision warning with automatic braking. The fleet-footed Escape has impressive handling prowess, which makes it one of the most entertaining to drive models in the small-SUV class. It also has a comfortable ride and a quiet interior. The impressive Sync 3 system is standard, replacing the old MyFord Touch infotainment system. One new feature is SYNC Connect, a smartphone app that allows owners to use their cell phone to lock and unlock their Escape, remotely start the engine, and track the vehicle location via GPS.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Ford Edge 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $23,600-$32,145 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: S, SE, Titanium Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (168 hp); 1.5-liter 4 turbo (179 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (245 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Ford Escape

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,885 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

75-79

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 2 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

Worse than average 2

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 91

Ford Expedition

Ford Explorer

his imposing SUV’s 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 delivers more power and better fuel economy than the V8 it replaced. Paired with the standard six-speed automatic, our Expedition returned 14 mpg overall in testing, a 1-mpg improvement. The V6 also has plenty of torque for trailer towing. Regular- and long-wheelbase versions are available, as well as eight-passenger seating. And that’s where the fun stops. The aging Expedition trails the competition because of its clumsy handling, noisy cabin, and low-rent interior. Sync 3 has replaced the much-maligned MyFord Touch infotainment system. Reliability is now much above average but the Expedition scored too low for us to recommend.

Base Price: $46,255-$68,996 Body Styles: 4-door SUV; extended SUV Trim Lines: XLT, Limited, King Ranch, XLT EL, Limited EL, King Ranch EL, Platinum Drive Wheels: Rear or selectable 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 turbo (365 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 67 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 64 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Ford Expedition

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 3 &

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,265 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,440 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 9,100

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &3 &3 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

92 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

hile it is roomy and has a livable third-row seat, the Explorer still trails the competition. Handling is ungainly, the ride is not entirely settled, and the non-turbo V6 powertrain is unrefined. For its 2016 model year freshening, Ford gave the Explorer new optional safety systems, a 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, revised front and rear fascias, and a new Platinum top trim level. Also new are front and rear 180-degree cameras that have a wash function to keep the lens clean. Lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control are optional. The MyFord Touch system now includes redundant knobs and buttons to compensate for the unresponsive onscreen touch-sensitive buttons and controls.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $31,160-$53,235 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, XLT, Limited, Sport, Platinum Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.3-liter 4 turbo (280 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (290 hp); 3.5-liter V6 turbo (365 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Ford Explorer

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,780 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,280 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &4 & 5 & 5 &4

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Ford F-150

Ford Fiesta

ord’s big-selling pickup truck uses an all-aluminum body, which saves about 700 pounds over steel. Powertrain choices include a 3.5-liter V6, 2.7- or 3.5-liter turbo V6s, and a 5.0-liter V8, each paired with a six-speed automatic. We tested the 2.7- and 3.5-liter turbo engines, and each delivered abundant power. In our tests the 2.7 got 17 mpg overall, 1 mpg better than the turbo 3.5. The 2.7 is also surprisingly quicker from 0 to 60 mph. The cabin is very quiet, but the ride is jittery and handling is rather ponderous. New safety offerings include lane-departure warning and blind-spot detection. Other notable features include a 360-degree-view camera and integrated loading ramps. Reliability of the redesign has been above average.

OVERALL SCORE 76-77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 42-50 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

78-80

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $26,540-$62,310 Body Styles: regular cab; extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum Drive Wheels: Rear, part-time, or selectable 4WD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (282 hp); 2.7liter V6 turbo (325 hp); 3.5-liter V6 turbo (365 hp); 5.0-liter V8 (385 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,025 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . 10,700

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Ford F-150

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

Better than average 4

64-74

CRASH PREVENTION

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RELIABILITY HISTORY

Fuel System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17

his subcompact has agile handling that makes it fun to drive, as well as a supple, controlled ride. Interior fit and finish and equipment levels are among the best of the class, and the cabin is relatively quiet. But the rear seat is very cramped. Our tested 120-hp, 1.6-liter Fiesta with the five-speed manual delivered excellent fuel economy but felt sluggish. A six-speed automated manual tends to cause the car to stumble in stop-and-go traffic. Other choices include a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder turbo and the sporty Fiesta ST that is truly a treat to drive if your kidneys can handle the stiff ride. Sync 3 has replaced the troublesome MyFord Touch infotainment system. Reliability of the Fiesta has remained well below average.

Base Price: $14,580-$21,460 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: S, SE, Titanium, ST Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 (120 hp); 1.0-liter 3 turbo (123 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (197 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Ford Fiesta 13

&5 & 3 & 5 & 1 & 1 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 1 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,665 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29-35

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 93

Ford Flex

Ford Focus

he boxy Flex combines SUV-like versatility with near-carlike driving dynamics. The interior is highly functional, with room for up to seven passengers in three rows, and its shippingcontainer shape works well for cargo. Rear visibility is hampered by big head restraints. Handling is not particularly nimble, but the ride is comfortable and the cabin remains quiet. The base 3.5-liter V6 has been updated and gets 18 mpg overall. Choosing the turbo V6 gives you quicker acceleration at a cost of just 1 mpg overall. Sync 3 has replaced the complicated and distracting MyFord Touch infotainment system.

OVERALL SCORE 71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 48-55 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $29,600-$42,600 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SE, SEL, Limited Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (287 hp); 3.5liter V6 turbo (365 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,820 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,160 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 47.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

94 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Ford Flex 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 3 & 1 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

62-74

CRASH PREVENTION

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RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

vailable as a sedan, a hatchback, and an electric version, the Focus feels solid and sophisticated, but it’s plagued by poor reliability and, at low speeds, a jerky transmission. The car is fun to drive, thanks to its agile handling and supple ride. The cabin is quiet, with good-quality materials for the class. But the cabin is narrow compared to newer competitors. An new 123-hp, 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo, shared with the smaller Fiesta, is available, but it’s slow and returns the same 29 mpg overall. A rear-view camera is now standard. Sync 3 has replaced the problematic MyFord Touch infotainment system. The sporty ST version is quick, fun, and sounds thrilling, while the new high-performance AWD RS uses a 350-hp turbo four-cylinder. Reliability has remained well below average.

Base Price: $17,225-$29,170 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: S, SE, Titanium, ST, Electric, RS Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.0-liter 3 turbo (123 hp); Electric (143 hp); 2.0-liter 4 (160 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (252 hp); 2.3-liter 4 turbo (350 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 1-speed direct; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Ford Focus

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 1 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&4 & 4 & 5 &5 &5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,990 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 &3 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular, premium, or electric CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25-107

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Ford Fusion

Ford Mustang

he Fusion is a delight to drive, with a supple ride and handling rivaling that of a European sports sedan. All trim levels and powertrains feel solid and upscale, with a well-finished and quiet cabin, and comfortable seats. But the rear seat is somewhat snug. Most Fusions get either a 1.5- or 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder matched with a six-speed automatic. A new performance model, the V6 Sport, equipped with all-wheel drive and a 325-hp, 2.7-liter EcoBoost is new for 2017. Plus, there’s also a Fusion Hybrid and the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, both of which receive more efficient electric motors for 2017. The Fusion’s interior sees the adoption of a rotary shift dial and the availability of Ford’s new-and-improved Sync 3 infotainment system.

OVERALL SCORE 75-77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 59-64 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

78-81

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $22,495-$41,120 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: S, SE, S Hybrid, SE Hybrid, Titanium, Titanium Hybrid, Sport, Energi SE, Platinum, Energi Titanium Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (175 hp); 1.5-liter 4 turbo (181 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (188 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (231 hp); 2.7-liter V6 turbo (325 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,615 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Ford Fusion 13

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

Average 3

76-84

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Electrical

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-39

he Mustang enters the modern age with an independent rear suspension. Base models use a 300-hp, 3.7-liter V6. The optional 310-hp, 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder delivers some punch but sounds raspy. The GT features a muscular 5.0-liter V8. We found the slick six-speed manual particularly satisfying, and the automatic works well. Coupe and convertible body styles are available, but the convertible uses an annoying manual latch to secure the top. Handling is balanced, and the firm ride is well controlled. Safety gear includes blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert. Ford has added the Sync 3 infotainment system, replacing the inferior MyFord Touch system, and a high-performance GT 350 trim has been added to the lineup. Reliability of the redesign has been below average.

Base Price: $24,645-$63,095 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; convertible Trim Lines: Base, Premium, GT, GT Premium, GT 350, GT 350R Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (300 hp); 2.3liter 4 turbo (310 hp); 5.0-liter V8 (435 hp); 5.2-liter V8 (526 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Ford Mustang 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 4 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 &4 &5 &5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,845 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 670 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &3 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-25

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 95

Ford Taurus

Ford Transit Connect

utting styling ahead of interior comfort and driver visibility, the Taurus wasn’t helped by the convoluted MyFord Touch control system. Fuel economy from the 3.5-liter V6 is 21 mpg. The six-speed automatic can be slow to shift and is not very smooth. A more fuel-efficient turbo four-cylinder is available. Otherwise, the Taurus is quiet, rides comfortably, and has lots of features. Handling is responsive but not sporty, and the turning circle is wide. The SHO, with standard AWD, is quick but not engaging to drive. A rear-view camera is standard. Reliability has improved to average, but it scored too low to recommend. Ford has replaced the the much-maligned MyFord Touch infotainment system with the new Sync 3 system, which is superior.

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $27,110-$40,275 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: SE, SEL, Limited, SHO Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (288 hp); 3.5-liter V6 turbo (365 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,090 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 950 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

96 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

his derivative of the Focus is no minivan substitute, even though it can seat five or seven. With its boxy shape and very tall roof you’d be challenged to find more passenger space for the money. The steady, supple ride and frisky handling are where the positives end, though. It remains a commercial vehicle at heart, with a lackluster four-cylinder, a low-rent interior, cumbersome folding seats, and a skimpy level of standard features. Unlike a minivan, you don’t get power doors or a rear-seat entertainment system, and even Bluetooth connectivity costs extra. The base four-cylinder managed only 21 mpg overall, and we see little indication that the uplevel 1.6-liter turbo-four would be more frugal.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Ford Taurus 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $22,675-$29,300 Body Styles: van; wagon Trim Lines: XLT, XL, Titanium Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (169 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (173 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System Fuel System

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,580 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,270 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Genesis G80

Genesis G90

art of the launch of the Genesis brand is the renaming of existing models. The old Genesis will be called the G80 for 2017. For about $10,000 less than competing midsized luxury sedans, it delivers just about every feature and luxury attribute a buyer could imagine. Offered with a smooth and refined V6 or a potent V8, the G80 has responsive handling and a comfortable ride, though it can’t quite match its German competitors. Our tested AWD V6 returned a competitive 20 mpg overall. Controls are refreshingly straightforward for a luxury car. Rear-seat passengers are coddled in thick leather with seat heaters, and space is plentiful. Most versions come with lane-departure warning, automatic braking, cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Reliability has been average.

OVERALL SCORE 78 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $38,750-$53,850 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 3.8, 5.0 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.8-liter V6 (311 hp); 5.0-liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Genesis

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,530 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 &4 & 2

3 &

Average 3

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

yundai is kicking off its Genesis luxury brand with the G90, a large luxury sedan with two available engines: a 3.3-liter, twinturbocharged V6 and a 5.0-liter V8. Both are mated to an eight-speed automatic, and available with optional all-wheel drive, addressing a shortcoming of the rear-drive-only Equus. The spacious cabin is bathed in soft-touch materials and flanked with wood and chrome trim. But it comes up short on wow factor, feeling more conventional than artistic. The ride is cushy and cosseting, but handling is not sporty. As is typical for this oft-chauffeur-driven class, the back seat is really the place to be. Power massaging seats and a bank of controls in the center armrest manage audio and climate settings. A complete suite of advanced safety features is also included.

Base Price: $55,000-$70,000E Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: V6, V8 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.3-liter V6 turbo (365 hp); 5.0-liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Equus

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,335 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Std./5

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 97

GMC Acadia

GMC Canyon

early a decade after its original introduction, the second-generation GMC Acadia has arrived with a new platform. It is seven-inches shorter, and lighter, than the old model, and should be significantly more fuel efficient. This three-row SUV continues to offer front- or all-wheel drive. A new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is standard, while the mainstream engine is a 310-hp, 3.6-liter V6. Available in five-, six-, or seven-passenger seating configurations, the Acadia promises to be family-friendly. The outboard second-row seats can slide and tilt forward, even with a child seat in place. A bevy of safety features are available, including forward-collision warning with automatic braking, pedestrian detection, lane warning, and blind-spot monitoring.

Base Price: $29,070-$46,920 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SL, SLE, SLT, All Terrain, Denali Drive Wheels: Front or selectable AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (193 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (310 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 51 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,955 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,610 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . 4,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

98 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

M’s midsized pickups, the Canyon and its Chevrolet Colorado twin, are more maneuverable than full-sized trucks and better equipped than their Nissan and Toyota competitors. Buyers can choose a 200-hp four-cylinder or a 305-hp V6, both backed by a standard six-speed automatic. A 181-hp four-cylinder turbodiesel is new for 2016. The ride is rather choppy, but handling is responsive. Rear- and four-wheel-drive versions are available, as are extended- and crew-cab bodystyles. Inside are the latest electronics, including the IntelliLink Bluetooth audio system. These are the first small trucks to offer forward-collision and lane-departure warnings, and a backup camera is standard. First-year reliability has been much below average.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

GMC Acadia 13

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4 &5 &5

Average 3

Base Price: $20,955-$38,110 Body Styles: extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: Base, SLE, SLT Drive Wheels: Rear or part-time 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.8-liter 4 turbodiesel (181 hp); 2.5-liter 4 (200 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (305 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

69 Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

GMC Canyon 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,500 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,555 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular or diesel CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

GMC Sierra 1500

GMC Terrain

he Sierra and similar Chevrolet Silverado have relatively responsive handling and a spacious, quiet cabin. Benefits include easy cabin access, intuitive controls, and generous towing and payload capacities. Fuel economy with the 5.3-liter V8 crew cab we tested was 16 mpg overall, but the truck feels a bit sluggish in everyday driving. Other engines are a 4.3-liter V6 and powerful 6.2-liter V8. Its few shortcomings include a jittery ride, and front seats that aren’t as supportive as those in some competitors. For 2016 more versions get the eight-speed automatic, lane-keeping assist is offered, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. Reliability has been much below average.

Base Price: $27,815-$54,640 Body Styles: regular cab; extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: SL, SLE, SLT, All Terrain X, Denali Drive Wheels: Rear, part-time, or selectable 4WD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear Engines: 4.3-liter V6 (285 hp); 5.3liter V8 (355 hp); 5.3-liter V8 (365 hp); 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

GMC Sierra 1500

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 &5 &5 & 3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &2 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ConsumerReports.org/cars

ike its Chevrolet Equinox twin, the GMC Terrain straddles the small- and midsized-SUV categories. The Terrain has a taut yet supple and controlled ride, with responsive and secure handling. Both the 3.6-liter V6 and the more fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine feel sluggish and have to work hard. The reluctant transmission blunts the performance of the V6, and its gas mileage is mediocre. Visibility to the side and rear is limited. At least the rear seat is roomy. 2016 models get a standard rear-view camera and available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Reliability has been above average but the Terrain scored too low for us to recommend.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $27,000-$35,925 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SL, SLE, SLT, Denali Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (182 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (301 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

GMC Terrain

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,945 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,095 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 33.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-21

68-69

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 99

GMC Yukon

GMC Yukon XL

his more luxurious version of the Chevrolet Tahoe uses a 5.3-liter V8 and six-speed automatic that returns 16 mpg and doesn’t feel particularly energetic. Ride and handling are not stellar, although the Magnetic Ride Control suspension on the Denali version improves ride comfort and handling response. The 6.2-liter engine is a meaningful upgrade. Proper optional equipment gives the Yukon a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds, about the only advantage it has over a car-based SUV. Like in the Tahoe, the third-row seat is low and tiny. Lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert are optional. Reliability of the redesign has been much below average.

OVERALL SCORE 52 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 50 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $48,315-$68,325 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SLE, SLT, Denali Drive Wheels: Rear or selectable 4WD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.3-liter V8 (355 hp); 6.2liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

GMC Yukon 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 &4 2 & 3 &

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,635 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,580 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 47.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .8,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &5 1 & VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

100 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

onsider this truck-based SUV a more luxurious Chevrolet Suburban. Unlike the shorter Yukon, the third-row seat in the XL is a bit roomier, and there is plenty of cargo room when that row is raised. Power comes from a 5.3-liter V8 and six-speed automatic that returns 16 mpg and is just this side of sluggish. The Magnetic Ride Control suspension on the Denali improves ride comfort and handling response. The 6.2-liter engine is a meaningful upgrade but can’t make this big barge quick. Properly equipped, the XL can tow 8,500 pounds, its only advantage over a car-based SUV. Changes for 2016 include available lane-keeping assist and Apple CarPlay capability. Reliability of the redesign has been much below average.

Base Price: $51,015-$71,025 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SLE, SLT, Denali Drive Wheels: Rear, selectable 4WD, or AWD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.3-liter V8 (355 hp); 6.2liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

GMC Yukon XL

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 &3 & 5 & 5 & 4 &3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 &3 & 5 &2 &1

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &4 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Honda Accord

Honda Civic

cross all trim lines, the Accord is well-equipped and priced competitively–making it one of our top-rated family sedans. It handles responsively, though the ride tends to be choppy. The interior is roomy and well-finished, and the base four-cylinder engine gets 30 mpg overall with its mostly unobtrusive CVT. The 3.5-liter V6 is lively and refined, and gets a very good 26 mpg overall. We didn’t like Honda’s unintuitive infotainment system on all but the base and Sport trims. Honda’s “Lane Watch” right-side camera is an ineffective substitute for blind-spot monitoring. An all-new Hybrid arrives for 2017 and gets an EPA-rated 49 mpg city fuel economy. The Touring and Hybrid come standard with the Honda Sensing safety suite, which includes forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Reliability has been above average.

OVERALL SCORE 81-82 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 72-73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

84-85

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $22,355-$35,955 Body Styles: coupe; sedan Trim Lines: LX, LX-S, Sport, EX, Hybrid, EX-L, Touring Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (185 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (189 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (212 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (278 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,245 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Honda Accord

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

Better than average 4

75-76

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-30

he Civic is substantial, refined, and capable. Both the 2.0-liter four-cylinder and optional 1.5-liter turbo deliver good fuel economy, while the zesty turbo brings more fun. The automatic transmission amplifies the noise of the base engine; it works better with the turbo. The ride is comfortable, handling is precise, and the quiet interior has a lot of storage space. However, the car’s low stance means doing the limbo to get in and out. In addition, the front seats lack adjustable lumbar, which could cause discomfort on a long drive. We didn’t like Honda’s unintuitive infotainment system—the only way to avoid it is to get the base trim level. Forward collision warning is available.

Base Price: $18,640-$26,500 Body Styles: coupe; sedan Trim Lines: LX, EX, EX-L, EX-T, Touring Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (158 hp); 1.5-liter 4 turbo (174 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,745 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31-32

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Honda Civic 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 101

Honda CR-V

Honda CR-Z

he CR-V is one of the roomiest, most functional small SUVs. The 185-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder returned 24 mpg overall in our tests. All but the base LX version use a distracting, difficult-to-use, and frustrating infotainment system. Handling is responsive and secure, but the ride is stiff, with bumps coming through in a pronounced way. The interior is still loud compared to other small SUVs. The rear seats are roomy, and folding them flat is a breeze. Small rear windows hurt the view out back, but the standard rearview camera helps. Reliability has been average of late. Active safety features are only available on the top Touring trim. The LaneWatch camera is no substitute for a true blind-spot monitoring system. A 2017 redesign arrives this fall.

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 58 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $23,745-$33,395 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LX, SE, EX, EX-L, Touring Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (185 hp) Transmissions: CVT

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor

Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,530 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

102 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Engine Cooling

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

he CR-Z is a rather unimpressive two-seat hybrid that’s based on the previous-generation Fit. It uses a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that makes 130 hp. Electric power is used to enhance performance, and acceleration is further enlivened by a Sport mode. We got 35 mpg overall in our tests, which isn’t terribly impressive for a small hybrid. The engine shuts off at idle but that also kills the A/C, which is maddening in the summer. Handling is not very sporty and the ride is rather jumpy. Visibility to the rear is severely compromised. A rear-view camera is standard on all trim lines. 2016 will be the final year for the CR-Z.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Honda CR-V 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

3 &

Average 3

Base Price: $20,295-$25,090 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback Trim Lines: Base, EX, EX-L Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front Engines: 1.5-liter 4 hybrid (130 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System Fuel System

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,635 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Honda Fit

Honda HR-V

he Honda Fit subcompact hatchback has always been an appealing urban runabout. Thanks to its clever multi-configurable seating, the Fit delivers versatility similar to a small SUV. The Fit gets great fuel economy at 33 mpg overall. But that comes with excessive noise when the continuously variable transmission keeps the engine at high revs. Handling is responsive, but the Fit has a stiff ride. On top of that, the cabin is loud, making the Fit unfit for long drives. Opting for the EX brings a sunroof and paddle shifters, while the EX-L includes heated leather seats. The button-free touch-screen radio on EX and higher trims is a constant frustration, and the seats and driving position aren’t very comfortable. Reliability of the redesign has been average.

Base Price: $15,890-$21,165 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: LX, EX, EX-L Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 4 (130 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

OVERALL SCORE 67 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 66 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor

Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,625 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Honda Fit 13

Engine Cooling

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

ased on the Fit subcompact, the HR-V gets a versatile, cargofriendly rear seat that flips up or folds down flat and low. Considerably smaller and less expensive than the CR-V, the HR-V is also louder and the ride is stiffer. Handling is responsive and secure. Power comes from a 141-hp four-cylinder driving either the front or all four wheels. But the HR-V feels underpowered, an impression amplified by the CVT. The Honda’s trump card is its excellent 29 mpg overall, very flexible interior, and generous rear seat and cargo room. Available premium features include heated leather seats, a sunroof, and keyless entry, and a rear-view camera is standard. We prefer the LX trim over the EX for its simpler audio controls.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 3 & Average 3

Base Price: $19,215-$25,990 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LX, EX, EX-L Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 (141 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,045 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 103

Honda Odyssey

Honda Pilot

his versatile and capable hauler combines clever and generous packaging with responsive handling and a supple ride--surprising for a minivan. Its vigorous 3.5-liter V6 and smooth six-speed automatic returned 21 mpg overall in our tests. The Odyssey can seat eight in relative comfort, with varying configurations for cargo and passenger needs. Easy access, excellent child-seat accommodations, and abundant cabin storage add to the family-friendly quotient. Among our few gripes is the tediously complicated dual touch-screen infotainment system. In addition, fit and finish and some material selection are not what one would expect at this price, and AWD isn’t available. Expect a redesigned Odyssey to debut by the end of 2016.

Base Price: $29,400-$44,875 Body Styles: minivan Trim Lines: LX, EX, SE, EX-L, Touring, Touring Elite Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (248 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 78 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Honda Odyssey

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,530 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,340 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 61.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

104 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

he redesigned 2016 Pilot is quicker, quieter, more fuel-efficient, and more contemporary looking. It keeps its three-row seating configuration and extremely functional interior, but gone are the cheap plastics of the previous generation. Power comes from a slick 3.5-liter V6 that is now rated at 280 hp. We got 20 mpg overall in our tests of an EX-L with the standard six-speed automatic. We found the ride comfortable, but handling ungainly. The infotainment system is unintuitive. Touring and Elite trims get a nine-speed that doesn’t shift smoothly and is stuck with an unintuitive electronic shifter. Front- and all-wheel drive are offered, and the optional Honda Sensing safety system includes forward-collision warning with automatic braking.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &5 &4 &5

Average 3

Base Price: $30,145-$46,570 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (280 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 9-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Honda Pilot

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,280 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,340 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Honda Ridgeline

Hyundai Accent

fter a two model-year hiatus, Honda’s unconventional pickup has returned as a 2017 model. Still built on the same platform as the Honda Pilot, the new Ridgeline looks more conventional. It retains the unit-body construction and the dual-action tailgate that can swing sideways for easier bed access or fold down in traditional fashion. It also keeps the lockable “trunk” space below the bed floor. The standard powertrain is a slick 280-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Front- or all-wheel drive will be available. Ride and handling are more civilized than conventional pickup trucks. The available Honda Sensing safety system includes forward-collision warning with automatic braking.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 62-64 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $29,475-$42,870 RELIABILITY HISTORY Body Styles: crew cab Honda Ridgeline Trim Lines: RT, RTS, Sport, RTL, RTL- TROUBLE SPOTS T, RTL-E, Black Edition 13 14 15 Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Engine Major 5 & 5 & Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (280 hp) Engine Minor &5 &5 Transmissions: 6-speed automatic Engine Cooling &5 &5 Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,430 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,585 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he entry-level Accent subcompact is available as a basic yet sensible sedan or hatchback. The sedan with the smooth and responsive automatic attained 31 mpg overall, and we got 32 mpg for the stick-shift Sport hatchback in our tests. That isn’t such great fuel economy, considering the new larger, more substantial Elantra gets 33 mpg overall. Though the front cabin is roomy enough, the cramped rear seat is on par for this class. Handling is fairly responsive, but the ride is rather jittery. Noise levels are elevated but not offensive. The controls are straightforward. Reliability has been above average, but we cannot recommend the Accent because it scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 5 &5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 &4 Average 3

Base Price: $14,745-$17,495 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: SE, Sport Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 (137 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Accent

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,550 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31-32

65-68

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 105

Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Ioniq

he redesigned 2017 Elantra is relatively roomy, sparing with fuel, and features intuitive controls. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder returned 33 mpg overall in our tests, but it provides leisurely acceleration and tends to buzz unpleasantly as revs increase. The Eco trim’s 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder, which is mated to a new seven-speed automatedmanual gearbox, feels more responsive, but comes with a $3,000 price premium. While handling is secure there isn’t much excitement found when driving the Elantra. The ride is mostly unobjectionable, but loses its composure over large bumps. Road noise is elevated as well. Inside, the front seats in our tested SE are short on lumbar support, though the power seat in the Limited is better. Active safety features are available and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported.

OVERALL SCORE 66 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $17,150-$22,350 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: SE, Eco, Limited Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (128 hp); 2.0-liter 4 (147 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Elantra

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,865 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

106 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

ngling to take on Toyota’s popular Prius, Hyundai is rolling out a compact hatchback hybrid that will be available in three flavors. In addition to the regular hybrid, a plug-in hybrid version will be available, with the ability to go short distances on just electric power, and then act as a hybrid after the charge is used up. The hybrid drivetrain consists of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and electric drive, with a total output of 139 hp. Unlike most hybrids, which use a continuously variable transmission, the Ioniq will employ a six-speed automated-manual transmission, which operates unobtrusively and makes the car feel familiar and conventional. The third version will be a fully electric vehicle, with a 28 kWh battery and a claimed range of 110 miles.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

Average 3

Base Price: $25,000-$35,000E Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Electric Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: Electric (118 hp); 1.6-liter 4 hybrid (139 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 1-speed direct

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or electric EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

he freshened 2017 Santa Fe is available with advanced safety features such as a multiview camera, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. This is still a roomy and comfortable three-row SUV built for family duty. Its 3.3-liter V6 is mated to a smooth, responsive six-speed automatic, a combination that attained 20 mpg overall in our tests. Handling is sound and utterly secure. Another plus is the settled, compliant ride that blunts pavement imperfections and lets the SUV sail smoothly on the highway. The well-finished cabin brings a lot of features for the money. Access to the cramped third row is somewhat difficult. Hyundai’s updated Blue Link system features remote starting via mobile phones. Reliability has dropped to below average.

OVERALL SCORE 68 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $30,800-$41,150 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SE, Limited, Ultimate, Ltd Ultimate Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Santa Fe

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,210 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,295 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 40.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5

Worse than average 2

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

yundai’s five-passenger midsized SUV received a number of updates with its 2017 freshening, including a standard rearview camera, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. It also improved from marginal to good in the IIHS small overlap crash test. This roomy SUV has a comfortable ride and a quiet interior. Power comes from a responsive 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a smooth six-speed automatic. We got a very good 23 mpg overall with this drivetrain. A more powerful 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is also available. Handling is sound and secure, but not exceptional. The well-finished cabin is packed with a lot of standard features, but rear visibility is so-so. Reliability has been above average. The latest version of the Blue Link infotainment system has a feature that allows remote starting via mobile phones.

Base Price: $25,350-$38,250 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, 2.0T, 2.0T Ultimate Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (190 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (264 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,760 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 930 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 35.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &5 &5 & 5

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 107

Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai Tucson

his competitive, but ho-hum, sedan has a quiet cabin, a comfortable ride, and excellent rear-seat room and access. Handling is sound and responsive enough. But the SE we tested had lackluster tire grip, hurting braking and emergency handling. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder returned a good 28 mpg overall; a 2.0-liter turbo fourcylinder is optional. Both are mated to a six-speed automatic. The Eco uses a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder paired with a seven-speed automated manual. Controls are easy to reach and simple to use. Safety features include forward-collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot detection. Plug-in and hybrid versions are available; the latter returned an impressive 39 mpg overall in our tests. Reliability has been above average.

OVERALL SCORE 76-77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 73-75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

78-80

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $21,750-$34,075 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: SE, Eco, Sport, Limited, Sport 2.0T, Plug-in, Plug-in Limited Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 turbo (178 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (185 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (193 hp); 2.0-liter 4 electric (202 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (245 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,315 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

108 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Hyundai Sonata

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

76-79

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Fuel System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-39

he Tucson is one of the better small SUVs available, and a huge improvement over its predecessor. The base SE version has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, linked to a six-speed automatic. This version is rather slow and returned 24 mpg overall. More expensive trims get a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder that uses a seven-speed automated manual transmission. This quieter and quicker setup returned 26 mpg overall, but it suffers from a vibration at very low speed, such as in parking maneuvers. Otherwise, ride comfort is pliant and composed, handling is responsive and secure, and the cabin is quiet. Controls are easy to use, and the rear seat is roomy. The Tucson has optional lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and forward-collision avoidance with automatic braking.

Base Price: $22,700-$31,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SE, Eco, Sport, Limited Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (164 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (175 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Tucson

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,595 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 970 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 29.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-26

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &5 &5

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Hyundai Veloster

Infiniti Q50

he sporty Veloster hatchback has three doors, with the rightside rear door providing access to the tight rear seat. Based on the small Accent, the Veloster’s 138-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder delivers adequate power, and the precise six-speed manual has low-effort throws. A dual-clutch, six-speed automated manual is optional. We got 31 mpg overall from a version with the manual transmission. Moving up to the Turbo trim gets you a strong 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder and an available seven-speed automated-manual transmission. Handling is responsive and secure. While the ride is quite stiff, it isn’t punishing. Rear visibility through the split back window is decent at best. Reliability has improved to average.

Base Price: $18,000-$23,950 Body Styles: 3-door hatchback Trim Lines: Base, Turbo R-Spec, Turbo Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 (132 hp); 1.6-liter 4 (138 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (201 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual

OVERALL SCORE 63 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &V

OVERALL SCORE 57 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Hyundai Veloster

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,765 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 ConsumerReports.org/cars

hough quick, the Q50’s underwhelming driving experience damages its luxury-sports-sedan pretensions. Fit and finish, ride comfort, and noise isolation aren’t up to scratch either. Handling is lackluster compared with its peers, mostly because of the dull steering. Ride comfort is unsettled and not helped by the stiff run-flat tires, and interior fit and finish is underwhelming. The cabin is roomy, and the rear seat is hospitable. But the slow-responding touch screen is frustrating to use. Reliability has been much below average, and it received a low owner-satisfaction score in our survey. 2016 brings a new engine lineup, starting with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and topping out with a 400-hp, 3.0-liter turbo six.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $33,950-$49,050 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 2.0t, 2.0t Premium, 3.0t Premium, Hybrid Premium, Sport, Red Sport 400 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (208 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (300 hp); 3.5-liter V6 hybrid (360 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (400 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

75 Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Infiniti Q50 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,835 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 109

Infiniti Q70

Infiniti QX30

he Q70 sedan is very quick, with a lively 330-hp V6 and a smooth seven-speed automatic. In our tests it returned 21 mpg overall. A V8 and a V6 hybrid are also available. But we found that the transition between electric and gas mode in the hybrid is too abrupt. Handling is quite agile, with communicative steering. The ride is firm and absorbs bumps well, but trails the German competitors in plushness, quietness, and interior ambiance. A roomy rear seat and easyto-use conventional controls are positives, as are the readily-available discounts, which make the extended-length L version a particularly good deal. Blind-spot intervention, with which pro-actively prevent you from crossing a lane if there is an adjacent car, is optional.

OVERALL SCORE 78-82 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

83-90

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $49,850-$67,050 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 3.7, Hybrid, 5.6, L Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (330 hp); 3.5liter V6 hybrid (360 hp); 5.6-liter V8 (416 hp); 5.6-liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,895 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

110 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-25

nfiniti’s shortcut into the entry-level luxury SUV category, the QX30 is based on the Mercedes-Benz GLA and offers just one powertrain. Its 208-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is the same as found in the GLA, and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel-drive versions have a slightly higher ride height, with a more-compliant suspension. The cabin incorporates some obviously Mercedes-sourced parts, as well as Infiniti features such as the InTouch infotainment system. The rear seat is cramped even for two adults, and, oddly, a power liftgate is not offered. Available safety features include adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with emergency braking, and blind spot warning.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Infiniti M, Q70 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $35,000-$42,000E Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, S Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (208 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,340 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Infiniti QX50

Infiniti QX60

nfiniti’s QX50 dates back to 2008. For 2016 it gets a freshening and a 3-inch-longer wheelbase, which grants more than 4 additional inches to rear-seat leg and knee room. But underneath, it’s still essentially a raised-wagon version of the old G37 sedan, a car we liked very much for its quickness, agility, and composed ride. Carrying over is the smooth seven-speed automatic and 325-hp, 3.7-liter V6, which remains punchy but tends to be noisy by current standards. Modest exterior changes include LED daytime running lights, and a new styling treatments. Up-to-date safety features include blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and full speed-range adaptive cruise control with forward-collision warning.

Base Price: $34,450-$35,850 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (325 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

he midsized QX60 is spacious, quiet, and well-finished, with room for seven but without the bulk of a full-sized SUV. Based on the Nissan Pathfinder, it has a comfortable ride, but handling lacks agility, making the QX feel rather mushy. Its 265-hp, 3.5-liter V6 and continuously variable transmission deliver smooth but just adequate acceleration and returned 19 mpg overall on premium fuel. Towing capacity is low at 3,500 pounds. A family-friendly feature allows access to the third row even with a child seat installed in the second row. But the second-row seat cushion is very low, compromising leg support and seat comfort. Reliability has been well below average.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE 58 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $42,600-$53,450 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Hybrid Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.5-liter 4 hybrid (250 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (265 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,015 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Infiniti JX, QX60

Transmission Major

Drive System

Fuel System

Electrical

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor

Fuel System

Brakes

Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Drive System

&5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 1 & 3 & 2 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 1 & 4 & 5 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,530 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,150 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 111

Infiniti QX70

Infiniti QX80

ging but still worthy, the QX70 stands out with an eager powertrain, bold styling, and responsive handling. We tested it when it was still called the FX and had the 3.5-liter V6, which got 18 mpg overall. Since then, the engine was upgraded to a 3.7-liter V6. Body roll is well-suppressed, although the QX70 isn’t exactly nimble, and it rides rather stiffly. The roomy cabin is well-finished and mostly quiet, except for the loud engine. But the curvy styling hurts visibility and robs cargo space. A wide array of optional safety features includes autonomous braking and forward-collision warning. The useful surround-view camera system gives a bird’s-eye view while parking.

OVERALL SCORE 61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE 58 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $45,850-$47,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 3.7 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (325 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

very large SUV, the QX80 has a plush, luxurious, and quiet interior. We liked the steady, supple ride but found this big barge ungainly. Not only is handling cumbersome in everyday driving, but the QX80 doesn’t shine at its limits either. The seven-speed automatic and 400-hp, 5.6-liter V8 provide smooth and strong performance, but it chugs premium fuel and returned just 15 mpg overall. The tall step-up to the cabin makes climbing in or out an ungracious affair. Cargo volume is plentiful, and the small, power-folding thirdrow seat comes in handy to carry two kids. Electronic safety aids include lane-departure and blind-spot warning systems, and Infiniti’s optional Backup Collision Intervention system.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $63,250-$88,850 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Limited Drive Wheels: Rear or permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.6-liter V8 (400 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

Transmission Major

Electrical Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,225 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 950 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 25.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

112 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

NOT

Drive System

ENOUGH DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

TROUBLE SPOTS

Fuel System

Brakes Exhaust

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

Opt.

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,990 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,590 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 49.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .8,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguar F-Type

aguar’s first SUV is based on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the XF and new XE. The most common version, the 35t, is powered by a 340-hp, supercharged 3.0-liter V6. We found it smoothly and effortlessly produces power. The S uses a 380-hp version. A 2.0-liter turbo diesel is also available. All versions come with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The F-Pace feels taut and nimble, which makes the driving experience lively. On smooth roads the ride is supple, though pavement cracks and seams come through with a thump. The seats are comfortable, but interior quality isn’t as impeccable as in the German competitors. Active safety features are available if you opt for the vision package. The infotainment system uses a slow, fussy touch screen.

Base Price: $40,990-$69,700 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Premium, Prestige, R Sport, S, First Edition Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbodiesel (180 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (380 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

aguar’s two-seat F-Type coupe and convertible have had a few updates added for 2016. Rear-drive V6 models get a six-speed manual that has stiff shift action. A smooth eight-speed automatic is standard, and the only gearbox available with the V8. All-wheel drive is new. Electric power steering replaces the hydraulic setup. The F-Type also gets Jaguar’s JustDrive smartphone app, which builds on the new InControl touch-screen infotainment system. The F-Type is sporty and capable, with a distinct exhaust bark emanating from the V8. But don’t expect tranquility in the mold of the departed XK. 2016 brings a longer five-year/60,000-mile warranty, which includes free scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Base Price: $65,000-$106,450 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: V6, V6 S, R Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front Engines: 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (380 hp); 5.0-liter V8 supercharged (550 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

Drive System Fuel System

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,340 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 5,290

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Diesel or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes

NEW MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

DATA

Exhaust Paint/Trim

TROUBLE SPOTS

Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

RELIABILITY HISTORY

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,520 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 113

Jaguar XE

Jaguar XF

he new XE is an athletic compact luxury sports sedan. Base models get a 180-hp, four-cylinder diesel. A more potent 340-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic is the uplevel offering, with a new 2.0-liter turbo fourcylinder arriving in 2017. Rear- and all-wheel-drive versions are available. Our brief experience indicates that the XE is agile and fun to drive, with a comfortable ride. But the interior ambiance is not as opulent as one might expect from a Jaguar. The rear seat is extremely tight and the infotainment system is not up to snuff. A host of advanced active safety and driver assistance features are available.

Base Price: $34,900-$51,700 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Premium, Prestige, R-Sport Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbodiesel (180 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 3.0liter V6 supercharged (340 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

he redesigned XF is one of the sportiest offerings among midsized luxury sedans. It’s taut and agile, yet possesses a supple and composed ride. The 340-hp supercharged V6 is punchy, and a more-powerful 380-hp version is also available. Interior ambiance is a bit austere for a Jaguar, and the standard infotainment system is slow and somewhat fussy. The uplevel InControl Touch Pro system features a 10.2- or 12.3-inch touch screen. The navigation system uses memory of past drives and real-time traffic info to offer alternate routes. All models get a generous 5-year/60,000-mile warranty, which includes free scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance, in an effort to alleviate concerns about reliability.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Base Price: $47,450-$65,700 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Premium, Prestige, R-Sport, S Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbodiesel (180 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (380 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Drive System Fuel System

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,350 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Diesel or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

114 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

TROUBLE SPOTS

Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

RELIABILITY HISTORY

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New -2

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,175 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,080

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Diesel or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New -2 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Jaguar XJ

Jeep Cherokee

he capable, luxurious XJ has graceful, nimble handling and a supple, steady ride. Its 470-hp V8 makes the big sedan very quick, but most versions have the supercharged V6 with all-wheel drive. The plush, quiet interior is crafted with genuine wood trim, copious amounts of leather, and abundant chrome details. But some controls are confusing. The complex touch screen for the climate, audio, and navigation systems responds slowly, and takes some getting used to. Our tested long-wheelbase XJL has a sumptuous backseat, but the low roofline impedes head room and access, and the trunk is small. Changes for 2016 include a new infotainment system and updated styling, plus a more generous five-year/60,000-mile warranty.

Base Price: $74,400-$121,000 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Portfolio, XJL Portfolio, Supercharged, XJL Supercharged, XJR Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 5.0-liter V8 supercharged (470 hp); 5.0-liter V8 supercharged (550 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

he Cherokee is too unrefined to be a contender among small SUVs. The best version is the 3.2-liter V6 in Limited trim. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder is slow, and its 22 mpg overall is lousy for the class. The nine-speed automatic is not very responsive or refined. Handling is competent but short on agility, and the ride is jittery. The rear seat is roomy and controls are intuitive with the 8.4-inch Uconnect system. Limited trims can be fitted with high-end amenities. The Trailhawk is capable off-road, and the V6’s 4,500-pound towing capacity is impressive. Updates for 2016 include stop-start on the V6, Siri Eyes Free, and the ability to customize the touch screen. Reliability has been much below average.

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

OVERALL SCORE 40-47 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $23,495-$38,395 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Latitude, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (184 hp); 3.2-liter V6 (271 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic

Transmission Major

Drive System

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,200 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ConsumerReports.org/cars

DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Fuel System

ENOUGH

Brakes Exhaust

Jeep Cherokee

Engine Major

Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor

NOT

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor

58-71

Electrical

&5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 3 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 1 & 5 &5 &5 &5 & 5 &5 &5 &5 & 3 &5 & 5 & 3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,120 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 115

Jeep Compass

Jeep Grand Cherokee

utdated and uncompetitive, the Compass’s only attractive attribute is its low price. While its ride is fairly composed, handling is unimpressive, although it is ultimately secure at its relatively low limits. The sluggish 2.4-liter four-cylinder returned a paltry 22 mpg overall. The upright front seats are narrow and are not particularly comfortable, and the cabin is cramped. Controls are straightforward, but the very basic interior is austere. The high rear window makes the cabin feel claustrophobic, and the styling restricts visibility to the rear. A Poor owner-satisfaction score is another indication of how uncompetitive it is. There are far better small SUVs available.

Base Price: $19,695-$25,995 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Latitude, Limited, Altitude, High Altitude Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (158 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (172 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT; 6-speed automatic

e like driving the Grand Cherokee, with its solid, upscale interior; comfortable seats; and supple, controlled ride. Handling is competent, fit and finish is excellent, and the eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly. The standard 3.6-liter V6 returned just 18 mpg, though. We also tested the diesel, which racked up 24 mpg overall. Two V8s, a 5.7-liter and the SRT’s 6.4-liter, are optional. The Uconnect infotainment system, with its large, well-labeled touch screen, is one of the best we’ve tested. Appropriately optioned, the Jeep makes a good tow vehicle or a capable off-roader. Updates for 2016 include engine stop-start for the revised V6, Siri Eyes Free, and an easier-to-use shift lever. Reliability has been well below average.

OVERALL SCORE 43 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &B

OVERALL SCORE 59-61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Base Price: $29,995-$65,695 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Laredo, Limited, Overland, Summit, SRT, Altitude Drive Wheels: Rear or permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel (240 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (295 hp); 5.7-liter V8 (360 hp); 6.4-liter V8 (470 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

NOT

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,590 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 26.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

116 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

TROUBLE SPOTS

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System

ENOUGH

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Fuel System

80-84

Electrical

&5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 2 & 4 & 1 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4 & 5 &5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 & 5 & 4 & 5 &5 &4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,900 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,050 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 36.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .6,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 &3 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular or diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-24

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Jeep Patriot

Jeep Renegade

lthough the small Patriot SUV has a compliant ride and mostly simple controls, little else stands out other than its temptingly low price. Like the similar Jeep Compass, the Patriot is seriously outdated and outclassed by the majority of the small-SUV class. Handling borders on clumsy, although the Patriot ultimately proves secure at its limits. In our tests the sluggish 2.4-liter four-cylinder returned just 21 mpg overall, placing it at the bottom of our tested small-SUV category. Once inside, passengers will notice the narrow cabin, wide center console, low-rent interior, and small windows, which give the car a closed-in feeling. On top of all that, the cargo area is small. Reliability has dropped to below average.

Base Price: $17,695-$25,595 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Latitude, Limited, Altitude, High Altitude Drive Wheels: Front or permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (158 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (172 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT; 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 40 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &B

OVERALL SCORE 46 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,350 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 29.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Jeep Patriot

Engine Major

Drive System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

uilt in Italy, the subcompact Renegade looks enticingly cute but is bogged down by a nine-speed automatic that’s neither smooth nor responsive. Fuel economy with the 2.4-liter was 24 mpg overall. Handling is uninspiring, and the ride is unremarkable. Idle vibration and an overly touchy brake pedal also mar the driving experience. Depending on options, the Renegade offers traditional Jeep features such as some off-road ability in the Trailhawk version and open-air driving via its optional removable sunroofs. Optional safety features include forward-collision and lane-departure warning, blindspot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and a backup camera. Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system is available.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Worse than average 2

Base Price: $17,995-$26,995 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, Limited Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (160 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (180 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 9-speed automatic

56 Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,360 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 985 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 30.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 117

Jeep Wrangler

Kia Cadenza

s an everyday vehicle, the Wrangler trails most SUVs, but few are better for off-road use. The Wrangler uses Chrysler’s 3.6liter V6 and five-speed automatic, which returned 17 mpg overall in our tests. Though the Wrangler may be better than ever before, the ride rocks and jiggles constantly, and handling is clumsy. Wind noise is very loud at highway speeds. Getting in and out is awkward, and the interior is uncomfortable. Off-road performance is legendary, and the Rubicon version performs better there than our tested Unlimited Sahara did. IIHS side-crash results for the two-door are poor, and the four-door scored marginal; but offset frontal and small-overlap results for the four-door are good. Reliability has been below average.

Base Price: $23,895-$36,995 Body Styles: 2-door SUV; 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Unlimited Sport, Sahara, Rubicon, Unlimited Sahara, Unlimited Rubicon, Sport S, Willys Wheeler, Wilys Wheeler W, Rubicon Hard Rock Drive Wheels: Part-time 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (285 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 5-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 26 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,570 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 34.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

118 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Jeep Wrangler

Engine Major

Fuel System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

tyling changes are subtle, but the redesigned 2017 Cadenza features an all-new body structure. Given that it shares the bones of the new Optima, Kia’s promise of more responsive handling is plausible. The new car is slightly wider and lower, with a longer wheelbase, adding up to about a half-inch more rear-seat leg room. The 290-hp, 3.3-liter V6 is similar to the engine in the Sorento SUV, which we found slick. We got 22 mpg with the old car. Inside, Kia has upped the comfort level, with increased soft-touch bits, real stitching on the dashboard, and available Nappa leather seats. The driver’s seat has been moved closer to the floor, and the bottom cushion can extend and even rotate for easier access. Automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning will be available, an omission on the outgoing model.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 1 & 4

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &5 & 4 & 5

Worse than average 2

Base Price: $33,000-$44,000E Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Premium, Limited Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Kia Cadenza 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,765 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Kia Forte

Kia K900

ia’s Forte provides generous interior room and a wide assortment of amenities. Our tested base LX sedan got 28 mpg overall with the 1.8-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic, but that engine has been replaced by a 2.0-liter unit for 2017. Though the ride is absorbent, it tends to feel floaty over undulations. Handling is very secure but not particularly agile. The SX hatchback continues to use a 1.6-liter turbo mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox. The spacious interior is quiet for a compact car, and the controls are logically arranged. Available features include front and rear heated and ventilated seats, and a rearview camera. The base LX comes standard with keyless entry and heated mirrors.

OVERALL SCORE 71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $16,490-$21,990 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: LX, S, EX, SX Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (147 hp); 2.0-liter 4 (164 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (201 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic; 7-speed sequential

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,815 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

ia’s flagship is the brand’s first rear-drive model and cousin of the Hyundai G90. It is offered with a smooth and punchy 420-hp V8 or a slick 3.8-liter V6, both mated to an eight-speed automatic. The K900 is like a traditional freeway cruiser: more comfortable wafting along in a straight line than carving corners. If you’re looking for the cushy ride found in old Cadillacs or Oldsmobiles, this may be the car for you. The base infotainment system uses a 9.2-inch screen, and top trims get a 12-inch display. A central controller manages the menus and selections, but it takes some getting used to. The cabin is very roomy. Safety options include blind-spot and lane-detection systems, rear cross-traffic alert, a wraparound camera, and front-collision warning.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Kia Forte 13

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $49,000-$61,900 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Premium, Luxury Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.8-liter V6 (311 hp); 5.0-liter V8 (420 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,555 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 119

Kia Optima

Kia Rio

iding on an all-new chassis shared with the Hyundai Sonata, the redesigned 2016 Optima midsized sedan packs a lot of substance and value. It drives nicely, with a firm yet absorbent ride and responsive, secure handling. The mainstream 2.4-liter four-cylinder is pleasant, while the uplevel 2.0-liter turbo four packs more punch. New to the line is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. At around $26,000 the EX trim features comfortable leather seats, automatic climate control, a roomy rear seat, and heating for the seats and steering wheel. We got 28 mpg with the 2.4-liter. Low-positioned dash vents are our only gripe. The latest version of Kia’s UVO touch-screen infotainment system works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A hybrid is also available.

OVERALL SCORE 81 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 51-53 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &B

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $22,140-$36,040 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: LX, EX, SX, Hybrid, SX Limited Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 turbo (178 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (185 hp); 2.4-liter 4 hybrid (199 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (245 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,300 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

120 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Kia Optima 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

3 &

Average 3

62-64

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

his sibling of the Hyundai Accent is available as a sedan or hatchback. Power comes from a 138-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy of 29 mpg overall with our automatic-equipped hatchback and 30 mpg for the sedan is pretty unimpressive. Its stiff ride and noisy cabin are typical of the genre and can get annoying during long trips, but they aren’t unbearable. Handling is a strong suit, with the car feeling responsive in corners. Higher-trim models offer amenities such as heated seats and a rear-view camera, but they can push up the price steeply. Interior and exterior styling were updated for the 2016 model year. Reliability has dropped to below average, and owner satisfaction is low.

Base Price: $14,165-$20,905 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: LX, EX, SX Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 (138 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Kia Rio

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,575 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-30

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Worse than average 2 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Kia Sedona

Kia Sorento

he Sedona is available in seven- or eight-passenger seating capacities. Under the hood is a smooth and refined 276-hp, 3.3-liter V6 engine matched with a six-speed automatic. The roomy cabin is quiet, but the ride is overly stiff and falls far short of the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna. Handling is rather ungainly, but ultimately secure. The interior is nicely finished and inviting, with a new front console that provides handy concealed storage. The second-row seats neither fold flat nor are removable, cutting into cargo capacity. Available safety features include forward-collision, blind-spot, and cross-traffic alert systems. Arear-view camera is standard on all trim lines.

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 84 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $26,400-$39,900 Body Styles: minivan Trim Lines: L, LX, EX, SX, SX Limited Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.3-liter V6 (276 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

his is a great SUV hiding in plain sight. Most midsized crossovers often feel like uninspiring errand runners. But the Sorento offers class-above elegance at mainstream prices. It’s a shade smaller than its midsized competitors, but that allows the Sorento to be city-friendly while still offering the space and features of a larger vehicle—including an optional-but-tiny third-row seat. The smooth 290-hp V6 is responsive with competitive fuel economy, while the base 185-hp four-cylinder is no slouch. The suspension absorbs the worst bumps and ruts with dignity while still giving you confidence in corners. The interior design is flat-out gorgeous, with intuitive controls and infotainment system. The Sorento comes with well-above-average predicted reliability.

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $25,400-$45,700 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: L, LX, EX, SX, SX-Limited Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (185 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Transmission Major

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,595 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,325 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Fuel System

DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Engine Major

Drive System

ENOUGH

Brakes Exhaust

Kia Sorento (2016)

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,175 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,120 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 37.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 121

Kia Soul

Kia Sportage

here is more to the boxy Soul than quirky styling. It packs abundant interior space, with chairlike seats and big windows providing an excellent view out. Though fundamentally a budget hatchback, the Soul can be an SUV alternative, functionality-wise. The driving experience isn’t special: The ride is stiff, and handling is sound but unexceptional. Power delivery from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder feels just adequate, and its 26 mpg overall is not outstanding. An extensive options list includes heated seats, touch-screen navigation, and a backup camera. An electric version is available on the West Coast and in some Northeast states. Available features include forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems. Reliability has been above average.

OVERALL SCORE 72 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $15,900-$35,950 Body Styles: wagon Trim Lines: Base, Plus, !, EV, EV Plus Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: .0-liter electric (109 hp); 1.6liter 4 (130 hp); 2.0-liter 4 (164 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 1-speed direct; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Kia Soul

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,055 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 24.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

122 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular or electric CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

he redesigned Sportage is a stylish and mildly sporty choice among small SUVs. The main engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, while the top-trim SX version sports a 2.0-liter turbocharged fourcylinder. Both are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. While a touch firm, the ride is composed and handling is responsive. Unlike its sister vehicle, the Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage benefits from the pairing of a larger engine and a conventional automatic transmission, which combine to give it smoother power delivery. The rear seat is roomy and the controls are easy to use, but visibility to the rear and side is difficult. The new Sportage scored a Good in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5

3 &

Better than average 4

Base Price: $22,990-$34,000 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LX, EX, SX Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (181 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Kia Sportage

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,485 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 970 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Land Rover LR4

rom the storied Land Rover brand, one would expect a more regal entry into this hot market segment. Instead, the Discovery Sport struggles in comparisons against even mass-market small SUVs. Power delivery from the turbo four-cylinder is spiky, with either too little or too much acceleration, and the transmission is neither smooth nor responsive. The Discovery Sport proved capable off-road, commendably ascending our rock hill and trails. But on the road, the ride is stiff-legged and handling is far from sporty. The austere cabin is rather plain for a model from a boutique luxury brand. A third-row seat is available. The infotainment system is slow to respond. Based on Land Rover’s history, we predict reliability for this pricey, underachieving SUV will likely be below average.

OVERALL SCORE 47 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $37,455-$45,955 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SE, HSE, HSE Lux Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic

ompared with the rest of the Land Rover line, the LR4 is looking a bit dated. The ride is supple but can get unsettled. Handling, though ultimately secure, is not a strong suit. The LR4 leans and lumbers when hustled through corners. A 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and eight-speed automatic are standard. The roomy cabin is comfortable, quiet, and luxuriously appointed, but some controls are confusing. The third-row seat is usable by adults, and cargo capacity is generous, but the two-piece tailgate is fussy to use. Off-road capabilities are top-notch, in part because of the height-adjustable suspension and electronic adjustments for various terrain types. A redesign is imminent.

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $50,400 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, HSE, HSE LUX Drive Wheels: Permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Transmission Major

Electrical Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,325 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 4,410

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Drive System

ENOUGH DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

NOT

Fuel System

Brakes Exhaust

Engine Major

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,710 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,300 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 52.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . .7,715

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 123

Land Rover Range Rover

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

wners of any ultra-luxury sedan will feel right at home in the Range Rover. The supercharged V6 and excellent eight-speed automatic provide effortless motivation, and the air suspension nonchalantly swallows up bumps. Handling is responsive and secure but not sporty, with noticeable body lean when hustling this big SUV through corners. We averaged 17 mpg overall, which isn’t great but is better than most rivals. Terrain-coping mechanisms and adjustable ride height give it standout off-road abilities. Cabin furnishings are exquisite and the supportive seats are first-rate, but the slow touch screen is complex. The optional InControl Apps system lets the screen mimic a smartphone interface. The turbodiesel V6 pulls strongly and gets better fuel economy, but has noticeable engine noise.

Base Price: $84,950-$199,495 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, HSE, SC V8, Autobiography Drive Wheels: Permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel (254 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (380 hp); 5.0-liter V8 supercharged (510 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

verall, the Evoque compact SUV is more about style than functionality. We tested a four-door Evoque with the old six-speed automatic, and got 21 mpg overall. A nine-speed automatic is now standard, and it’s neither smooth nor responsive. The ride is choppy and noise levels are elevated. Interior room and visibility are sacrificed for the striking silhouette. Controls are a bit quirky. Routine handling is sprightly but becomes disconcerting at the limits. The Evoque’s Terrain Response system facilitates moderate off-road capability—uncommon in this class. Updates include new seats and the new InControl infotainment system, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist is optional. Unique among SUVs, a convertible version is available.

OVERALL SCORE 60 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $41,475-$53,775 Body Styles: convertible; 2-door SUV; 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SE, SE Premium, SE Dynamic, HSE, HSE Dynamic Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic

Transmission Major

Electrical Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,300 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 960 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 34.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . .7,715

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

124 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

NOT

Drive System

ENOUGH DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Fuel System

Brakes Exhaust

Engine Major

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,940 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,025 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 25.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Lexus CT 200h

hile the Sport has a similar level of interior plushness as the stately Range Rover it is based upon, it focuses on maneuverability and handling prowess and less on ride comfort and off-road ability. Low range gearing is optional. Power comes from strong supercharged V6 and V8 engines mated to an eight-speed automatic. The Sport delivers an engaging driving experience, with taut, agile handling, but the ride is stiff and choppy. Some controls are behind the times, though the optional InControl Apps system lets the system mimic a smartphone interface. Rear-seat room is generous, but the optional third-row seat is tiny. A 254-hp, 3.0-liter V6 diesel and stronger SVR V8 version are new for 2016.

OVERALL SCORE 57 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $64,950-$111,350 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SE, HSE, HST, SC V8, Autobiography, SVR Drive Wheels: Permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel (254 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (340 hp); 3.0-liter V6 supercharged (380 hp); 5.0-liter V8 supercharged (510 hp); 5.0-liter V8 supercharged (550 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

his small hatchback has excellent fuel economy, but its refinement isn’t up to the Lexus standard. A 2016 freshening brought styling updates and mechanical tweaks said to improve ride comfort and noise levels, two areas we found problematic in our testing. Using the same powertrain as the previous-generation Prius, the CT’s 40 mpg is 12 mpg less than the newer, roomier Toyota. The CT can drive solely on electric power at low speed. Handling is responsive and secure, but the ride is stiff and choppy. The cabin is well-assembled, with quality materials. But the rear seats are tight, cargo capacity is modest, and the view out back is limited. Reliability has been outstanding.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

Base Price: $31,250 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: Base, F Sport Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 hybrid (134 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Engine Major Engine Minor

Transmission Major

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,255 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,345 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . .31.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . .7,715

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Lexus CT 200h

Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System

Fuel System

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Engine Cooling

Drive System

Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,225 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much better than average 5 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 125

Lexus ES

Lexus GS

or those who don’t care about sporty driving dynamics, the upscale ES is an alternative to sedans like the Toyota Camry or Avalon. Handling is sound but falls short of being engaging or fun. Uncharacteristic for Lexus, the ride is on the stiff side, and the optional 18-inch wheels make it worse. The powerful 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic got a good 25 mpg overall. But in our opinion the hybrid is more appealing, thanks to its combination of size and fuel economy, returning an excellent 36 mpg overall and 44 on the highway in our tests. Inside, the quiet cabin looks good at first, but some cheap touches are apparent. The mouselike infotainment interface is distracting and convoluted. Reliability has been excellent.

OVERALL SCORE 79 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 82 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

77-78

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $38,100-$41,020 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 350, 300h Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 hybrid (200 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (268 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Lexus ES 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,575 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

126 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25-36

he GS competes well, delivering a balanced combination of ride, handling, quietness, and roominess. Engaging to drive, the car’s good handling and taut, yet supple ride compete well against German rivals. Its strong 3.5-liter V6 returned 21 mpg overall in our tests. Rear-drive versions get an eight-speed automatic, while AWD versions get a six-speed automatic. A hybrid with a CVT is also available. Interior space is on par for the class, and the cabin is nicely furnished, but the infotainment system is operated with a distracting mouselike controller. For those looking for more performance, the GS F offers a 467-hp V8. The base model is the rear-drive 200t, which features a turbo four-cylinder. A blind-spot monitor with rear crosstraffic alert is standard. Reliability has been well above average.

Base Price: $45,615-$84,440 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 200t, 350, F Sport, 450h, F Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (241 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (311 hp); 3.5-liter V6 hybrid (338 hp); 5.0-liter V8 (467 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Lexus GS

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,845 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Lexus GX

Lexus IS

ike its Toyota 4Runner corporate cousin, the GX 460 is among the few remaining old-school SUVs that use a bodyon-frame design. It is very quiet and quick for a hulking brute, yet the GX is highly capable off-road and has a high tow rating. The 4.6-liter V8 engine and six-speed automatic make for a slick powertrain that gets 17 mpg overall. Handling is lumbering but ultimately secure. The ride is very comfortable, although the body tends to jostle when driving over uneven pavement. Inside, the cabin is plush and well-finished. The small third-row seat folds neatly into the floor when it’s not in use, but the sideswinging rear door can be inconvenient at times. Reliability has consistently been above average.

OVERALL SCORE 74 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 63 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $50,780-$62,155 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 460, 460 Premium, 560 Luxury Drive Wheels: Permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 4.6-liter V8 (301 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Lexus GX 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,170 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,155 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 36.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .6,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

n our tests, the IS came up short as a sports sedan. Handling is secure but not engaging enough to run with true sports sedans. Ride comfort is neither tied down nor plush. Even the punchy IS 350 is underwhelming to drive. For 2016 a new 255-hp V6 powers the IS 300. It gives the car more zip, but its fuel economy of 21 mpg overall is uncompetitive in the class. Still, the interior is extremely cramped, and getting in and out is an ungraceful chore. All-wheel-drive versions have a pronounced hump by the driver’s right leg. Fit and finish is okay but not a standout, and the mouselike infotainment controller is distracting to use. A new 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is available, but only in rear-wheel drive. Reliability has been above average, but the IS scores too low to be recommended.

Base Price: $37,325-$43,035 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 200t, 200t F Sport, 300, 300 F Sport, 350, 350 F Sport Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (241 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (255 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (306 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Lexus IS 13

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,850 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS * &4 &5 NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 127

Lexus LS

Lexus LX

he Lexus flagship sedan delivers luxurious, highly refined, and fuss-free motoring with a comfortable and serene ride. It has an exceptionally quiet cabin and is laden with features. Fit and finish is excellent. Its recent freshening made handling a bit more responsive while retaining the silky ride. The strong V8 and eight-speed automatic deliver a very smooth and responsive package. The extended-length version has generous rear-seat room. A self-parking feature and all-wheel drive are optional. The LS 600h hybrid comes with standard AWD. Despite retaining some conventional knobs and buttons, the mouse-controlled infotainment system is complicated and distracting to use.

OVERALL SCORE 86 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $72,520-$82,305 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 460, 460L, F Sport, 600h L Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 4.6-liter V8 (360 hp); 4.6liter V8 (386 hp); 5.0-liter V8 hybrid (438 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

Lexus LS 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,515 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &4 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much better than average 5 PREDICTION

128 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

his luxury SUV is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser, itself quite plush and upscale. Power comes from a strong 5.7-liter V8 also found in the Tundra pickup. It has a comfortable ride and a quiet, plush, and well-assembled cabin. Our tested Land Cruiser got only 14 mpg overall but was very composed and secure off-road. Like the Toyota, the LX has an off-road crawl mode that manages throttle and braking over tough terrain. The height-adjustable suspension further enables the LX to traverse off-road. But the power-folding third-row seat folds up to the sides, limiting cargo space. An eightspeed automatic and blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert are now standard, while the Lexus Safety System+ is optional.

Base Price: $88,880 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 570 Drive Wheels: Permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.7-liter V8 (383 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System Fuel System

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,385 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Lexus NX

Lexus RC

ased on the Toyota RAV4, the compact NX delivers a less opulent driving experience than the typical Lexus. Handling is responsive, but the ride is more firm than cosseting and cabin noise isn’t particularly hushed. The NX 200t’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder works well and delivers 24 mpg overall. The NX 300h hybrid returns 29 mpg overall, making it one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs we’ve ever tested, but it feels a bit underpowered. Snazzy details lend the interior some appeal, but some cheap touches remain. Front cabin room is tight, and the styling compromises rear visibility and crimps cargo space. The infotainment system’s fussy touchpad requires distracting focus to use when driving. First-year reliability has been well above average.

Base Price: $34,965-$41,310 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 200t, 200t F Sport, 300h Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 hybrid (194 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (235 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 75-77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

71-74

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Lexus NX 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 895 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 28.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-29 ConsumerReports.org/cars

his aggressively styled coupe offers seating for four passengers of diminutive stature. Essentially a coupe version of the IS sedan, the RC uses a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine hooked up to an eight-speed automatic. An all-wheel-drive version is available with a six-speed automatic. Top-trim RC F versions, fitted with a 467-hp, 5.0-liter V8, target the BMW M4. That prodigious output is routed to the rear wheels with a torque-vectoring differential, which sends power to the tire that has the most grip. The RC F is superquick, with a loud exhaust bark. The various driving modes sharpen throttle and steering response, but the car’s weight ultimately compromises agility.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $39,995-$62,805 Body Styles: coupe Trim Lines: 200t, 300, 350, 350 F Sport, F Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (241 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (255 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (306 hp); 5.0-liter V8 (467 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,750 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 129

Lexus RX

Lincoln Continental

he RX got a 2016 makeover, with avant-garde exterior styling and advanced safety features. Its 3.5-liter V6 is now linked to a new eight-speed automatic, delivering ample power and a commendable 22 mpg overall. The fuel-thrifty 450h hybrid gets an excellent 29 mpg overall. Inside, the RX is very quiet and well-finished. Ride comfort is plush whether you get the base car on 18-inch tires or more uplevel versions with 20-inch tires. Handling, however, is ponderous and devoid of any sporty feel, but ultimately secure. The mouselike controller and interface require a steep learning curve. Rear passengers get lots of leg and knee room. Options include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning.

OVERALL SCORE 78-81 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

77-80

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $41,900-$57,045 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 350, F Sport, 450h, 450h F Sport Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (295 hp); 3.5liter V6 hybrid (308 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 8-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Lexus RX 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,435 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-29

130 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ased on the accomplished Lincoln MKZ, itself derived from the Ford Fusion, the Continental nameplate returns as an all-new, big bold, and thoroughly high tech flagship sedan for Ford’s premium Lincoln brand. The base engine is a 3.7-liter V6. Next up is a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6. The top-level Continental gets a Lincoln-exclusive 400-hp, 3.0liter twin-turbo V6. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive optional. Leather abounds throughout and the headliner is covered with soft suede. The hugely contoured front seats take center stage. They are 30-way adjustable and feature heating, cooling, and massage, as well as individually adjustable thigh support for each leg. The base car starts about $45,000 but higher trims cost as much as $70,000.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $44,560-$68,180 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Premiere, Select, Reserve, Black Label Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (305 hp); 2.7liter V6 turbo (335 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (400 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Lincoln MKC

Lincoln MKT

he MKC includes luxury and high-tech features, but this Ford Escape-based model falls short of the class leaders. Power is strong, particularly from the 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder, but it returned just 19 mpg overall in our tests. That, combined with the small gas tank, results in a short cruising range. The six-speed automatic’s push-button shifter is inconveniently located far up on the dash. None of the adaptive suspension modes make for a truly comfortable ride. Handling is secure, but trails its German rivals. A quiet cabin, plush trim, easy access, and decent rear-seat room enhance livability, but rear visibility is limited. Sync 3 has replaced the convoluted MyLincoln Touch infotainment system. First-year reliability has been well below average.

OVERALL SCORE 55 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $32,720-$49,020 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Premiere, Select, Reserve, Black Label Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 2.3-liter 4 turbo (285 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Lincoln MKC 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,070 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 30.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ConsumerReports.org/cars

his three-row SUV is based on the Ford Flex, with a similarly roomy interior and a more stylized shape. Base models are equipped with a lackluster 3.7-liter V6. We tested the uplevel 3.5-liter turbo V6 version, which was quick and returned 18 mpg overall. The ride is comfortable but stiffer than that of the Flex, and the MKT is cumbersome at its cornering limits. The interior is very roomy, plush, and quiet. But visibility and the driving position are compromised, and the third-row seats are best suited for kids. A wide turning circle and overall length hamper maneuverability. None too soon, Sync 3 has replaced the much-maligned MyLincoln Touch infotainment system, delivering a more-enjoyable infotainment experience.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $43,370-$45,365 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 3.7, 3.5 EcoBoost Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (303 hp); 3.5liter V6 turbo (365 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,980 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,160 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 131

Lincoln MKX

Lincoln MKZ

ased on the capable Ford Edge, the redesigned Lincoln MKX is one of the best-scoring luxury SUVs in our testing. This is a quiet, refined, and high-tech vehicle. The standard 303-hp, 3.7-liter V6 feels a bit unremarkable, while the optional 335-hp, 2.7-liter turbo V6 is smooth and delivers effortless thrust. The only knock against the MKX is its rather unimpressive fuel economy of 18 mpg overall. Handling is athletic, making the MKX fun to drive and the ride is steady and composed. Tall drivers will likely find the push-button shifter a long reach away. The very quiet cabin feels first class, with abundant wood, brushed metal, and leather surfaces. Convenience and safety features include a 360-degree camera, parking and lanekeeping assist, cross-traffic alert, and automatic braking.

OVERALL SCORE 79 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $38,260-$47,810 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 3.7L, 2.7L Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (303 hp); 2.7liter V6 turbo (335 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,560 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,030 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 32.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

132 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Lincoln MKX 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

83-84

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ased on the engaging Ford Fusion, the upscale Lincoln MKZ is updated for the 2017 model year with newly-available engine and increased luxury appointments. Base models get a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that provides ample power. In our tests the hybrid got 34 mpg overall. For more punch, a Lincoln-exclusive 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 puts out 400 hp, sent to all four wheels. The MKZ is sporty, yet delivers a comfortable ride. Inside is a luxurious and quiet cabin, with comfortable seats, though the rear seat is snug. Forward-collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection bolsters safety credentials, while enhanced park assist can have the car park itself in either parallel or perpendicular parking spots.

Base Price: $35,010-$53,560 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 2.0 EcoBoost, Hybrid, V6, Black Label Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (188 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (245 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (350 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (400 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Lincoln MKZ

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,755 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .875 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23-34

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 &5 &5

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Lincoln Navigator

Maserati Ghibli

his more luxurious version of the Ford Expedition is neither as quiet nor as plush as its GM competitors, but it offers a much more comfortable third-row seat. The 3.5-liter turbo V6 delivers smoother, more effortless power delivery than the old V8 that it replaced, and it returned 15 mpg in our testing. Handling is ungainly but secure. The Navigator rides comfortably, but wind noise is excessive. The interior looks dated and fails to hide the Navigator’s pickup-truck roots. Both regular- and long-wheelbase versions are available. The motorized running boards help access to the tall cabin. For the 2016 model year, Sync 3 replaces the much-maligned MyLincoln Touch infotainment system.

Base Price: $63,195-$76,650 Body Styles: 4-door SUV; extended SUV Trim Lines: Base, L Drive Wheels: Rear or selectable 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 turbo (380 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

he Ghibli is based on a Chrysler 300 platform. Its base engine is a Ferrari-developed 345-hp turbo V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic. The SQ-4 all-wheel-drive version we tested has a 404-hp turbo V6. Handling is sporty and agile, the brakes are strong, and the engine emits a thrilling bark. But the stiff ride can grow fatiguing, and the rear is cramped. Climbing into or out of this low-slung sports sedan can be a challenge. The interior is festooned with high-quality leather and suede, and most controls are easy to use, including Chrysler’s Uconnect touch screen. But the shifter is fussy to use and it’s hard not to notice some cheap-looking switches, sourced from the Chrysler parts bins. Maserati claims that wind noise has been reduced.

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 59 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &V*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $70,600-$78,550 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, S Q4 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbo (345 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (404 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Transmission Major

Electrical Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,140 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,380 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 61.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .8,700

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Drive System

ENOUGH DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

NOT

Fuel System

Brakes Exhaust

Engine Major

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,625 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 133

Maserati Levante

Mazda CX-3

he five-passenger Levante is Maserati’s first-ever SUV, built on the same platform as the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans. Pricing starts at $72,000 for the 345-hp, V6 base model and reaches $83,000 for the 424-hp S version. The Levante delivers a thrilling sound from the Ferrari developed engine, with nimble, athletic handling and, courtesy of the standard air suspension, a steady ride. Interior features include a standard version of Chrysler’s Uconnect system with an 8.4-inch touch screen and a stunning cabin that’s wrapped in leather, suede, and wood, with comfortable seats and nice detailed stitching. However, the shifter is unintuitive to use. Safety gear includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with brake assist, lane-departure warning without lane correction, and a surround-view camera.

Base Price: $72,000-$83,000 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, S Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbo (345 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (424 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

azda’s entry in the mini-utility segment brings agile handling, a solid and substantial feel, and good fuel economy. The ride is firm but does a good job absorbing impacts, although noise levels can be high. The CX-3 is available with front- or all-wheel drive, and the sole powertrain is a 146-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic. It’s a smooth, willing mill but isn’t overly powerful. The infotainment system includes a 7-inch center display screen and a rotary knob to control phone and audio functions, but it takes time to get familiar with its operation. The rear seat is very tight, and cargo space is modest. This is the first non-luxury mini-SUV to offer blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 67 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $19,960-$26,240 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (146 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,905 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . 6,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Brakes

Engine Cooling

Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

Engine Minor

Transmission Minor

FACTS & FIGURES

134 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Engine Major

Transmission Major

Electrical

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor

Fuel System

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Drive System

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,945 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-9

pry and fuel-efficient, Mazda’s small SUV is rewarding to drive and is reliable. Nimble handling and a taut ride, combined with ample power from the 2.5-liter, 184-hp four-cylinder, makes it fun to drive. The one downside is that the cabin is louder than most in the segment. A complex rotary dial-controlled infotainment system takes some time to master. A less powerful 2.0-liter four comes only with FWD and a manual transmission. Cabin and cargo space are plentiful, seats are comfortable, and visibility is good—aided by standard blind-spot monitoring on higher trims. The Grand Touring trim offers forward-collision warning with autobraking. Owner satisfaction is high. This is a viable choice against a VW Tiguan or Ford Escape.

OVERALL SCORE 74 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $21,795-$29,870 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (155 hp); 2.5-liter 4 (184 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Mazda CX-5

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,435 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

fter a nine-year run, Mazda’s CX-9 has been redesigned, moving to a new, lighter platform. Power comes from a responsive, free-revving 227-hp, 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a smooth six-speed automatic. This engine is rated at 250 hp if you use premium fuel, but there’s no reason to do so. Mazda’s big SUV drives well, with nimble handling that makes it feel like a smaller vehicle. The ride is comfortable and the cabin is quiet as well. The well-finished interior includes comfortable seats, but the cockpit is snug and power-seat adjustments are limited. Mazda’s dial-controlled infotainment system takes time to master. Available safety features include blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning with active braking.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

Better than average 4

Base Price: $31,520-$44,015 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Signature Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.5-liter 4 turbo (227, 250 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,280 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,190 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Mazda CX-9 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 135

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Mazda3

azda modernized the classic roadster concept with the original Miata. Lighter and shorter than the diminutive original, the fourthgeneration remains true to the formula. Although 155 hp from the 2.0-liter four doesn’t sound impressive, the Miata quickly scoots along while returning a miserly 34 mpg overall. Shifting the delightfully-accurate six-speed manual shifter is a joy; we’d skip the optional automatic, though it works fine. Quick and precise steering delivers sublime backroad handling, but high levels of noise, thin and unsupportive seats, and a stiff ride all grow fatiguing during highway travel. Cabin space is snug, and the optional dial-controlled infotainment system takes time to master. Flipping open the convertible top is a breeze.

Base Price: $24,915-$31,270 Body Styles: convertible Trim Lines: Sport, Club, Grand Touring Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (155 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 79 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 74 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,335 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

136 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

hether as a sedan or hatchback, the Mazda3 is fun to drive, thanks to its perky handling. At 33 mpg, the Mazda3 is the one of the most fuel-efficient compacts that isn’t a hybrid or a diesel. It also offers a host of luxury features rarely matched by any other compact car, including a multimedia system with a large center screen and active safety features like a blind-spot monitoring system. On the downside, the car tends to be loud on the highway, and ride comfort isn’t stellar. The infotainment system controls can be daunting at first and take a while to master, and the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta have roomier rear seats. Reliability has been above average.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4

Base Price: $17,845-$26,495 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: i Sport, i Touring, i Grand Touring, s Touring, s Grand Touring Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (155 hp); 2.5-liter 4 (184 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Mazda 3

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,875 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32-33

72-73

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4

Better than average 4 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mazda6

Mercedes-Benz B-Class ED

porty yet sparing with fuel, the Mazda6’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivered 32 mpg overall in our tests, the best fuel economy among conventional midsized sedans. The six-speed automatic is very smooth and delivers quick shifts. We found the 6 to be capable in the corners. The ride is taut and steady but on the firm side, and the cabin is rather loud for the class, with considerable wind noise on the highway. A recent freshening included a new dash, and a center display screen that is operated via a central knob on the console, which takes some getting used to, and slightly better noise isolation. A head-up display is optional.

OVERALL SCORE 77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $21,495-$30,195 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (184 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Mazda 6

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,185 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3

3 &

Better than average 4

NA Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

he B-Class is the first all-electric car that Mercedes-Benz has offered in the U.S. It has about 85 miles of range, and its 36-kWh lithium-ion battery can be replenished in four hours. The B-Class seats five, and the battery pack doesn’t intrude on passenger or cargo space. However, the car feels rather outdated, thanks in part to its stiff ride and clumsy handling, and is neither particularly quick nor very quiet. A suite of advanced safety and convenience features is available, including a system that lets the driver check on the charging status via a smartphone.

Base Price: $41,450 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: Electric (177 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,955 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .785 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Electric EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 137

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLA

his competitive sports sedan is enjoyable to drive and has a beautifully finished interior. The base C300 uses a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, which returned a respectable 26 mpg overall in our AWD version. The C has quick reflexes, with prompt steering response and a comfortable ride. Inside, you’ll find an upscale and snazzy cabin with a high-quality feel, but the infotainment system takes time to master. Semi-autonomous highway steering is optional, and autonomous braking is standard. The rip-roaring C63 AMG gets a 469-hp, twin-turbo V8 in standard form or 503-hp in the S version. New additions include a C350e plug-in hybrid, C300d diesel, and C450 AMG Sport. First-year reliability of the redesign has been well below average. A coupe version is new.

OVERALL SCORE 65 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 53 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

85 Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $38,950-$73,250 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: C300, C350e, C300d, C450 AMG, C63, C63 S Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbodiesel (208 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (241 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (275 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (362 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (469 hp); 4.0-liter V8 turbo (503 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 3 & &5 &5 &5 3 & &5 &4 2 &

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,670 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .795 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &5 1 & VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

138 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ost mainstream sedans deliver a better driving experience than the CLA, let alone a typical Mercedes. The engine and transmission lack refinement. At times the powertrain feels unresponsive, and while the car is agile, the ride is punishingly stiff. Cabin access is difficult, and the well-appointed interior is noisy and cramped. The heavily promoted base price is something of a tease; buyers need to spend a lot on options to get the luxury features expected on a premium model. Typical prices can easily break $40,000. The 375-hp AMG CLA45 version sounds more exciting on paper than it feels from behind the wheel. Reliability is well below average and owner satisfaction is low.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $32,050-$49,500 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 250, 45 AMG Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (208 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (355 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Mercedes-Benz CLA 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,335 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mercedes-Benz CLS

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

he extensively freshened CLS gets a new 329-hp, twinturbo 3.0-liter V6 hooked up to a seven-speed automatic for the base powertrain. The 550 gets a 402-hp, 4.7-liter twin-turbo V8 mated to a new nine-speed automatic. An AMG version with a 577-hp, 5.5-liter V8 delivers ferocious acceleration. Handling is capable and surprisingly agile for such a large car. The ride is firm but supple and steady. The coupelike styling results in a low roof and small windows, reducing interior space. That also limits cabin access, hurts visibility, and compromises rear-seat room. Noise levels are hushed. Fit and finish is excellent, but the controls are complicated. All-wheel drive is available.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

NA Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $66,900-$107,800 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: CLS400, CLS550, CLS63 AMG S Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbo (329 hp); 4.7-liter V8 turbo (402 hp); 5.5-liter V8 turbo (577 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic; 9-speed automatic

he new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class hits the streets with the promise of improved fuel economy, cutting-edge safety gear and enough comfort technology to keep it highly competitive in the luxury sedan segment. The base E300 will be powered by a 241-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that is linked to a nine-speed automatic. Diesel and high-performance AMG variants will come later. An optional driver-selected suspension allows both sport and comfort settings. Inside, the dash is dominated by a relatively massive high-resolution screen similar to the one in the S-Class. The new E-Class also gets what the company is calling touch-sensitive control buttons on the steering wheel. New safety highlights include a “Car-to-X communication” system, which uses your mobile phone to exchange information with other vehicles further down the road.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $52,150-$54,650 Body Styles: sedan; wagon Trim Lines: E300, E400, AMG E43 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (241 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (329 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (396 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,160 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Fuel System

DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Engine Major

Drive System

ENOUGH

Brakes Exhaust

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor

Electrical

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Transmission Major

Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,935 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 139

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Mercedes-Benz GLC

ssentially a raised wagon version of the CLA sedan, the GLA performed better in our tests than its sibling. It got 26 mpg overall from the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. But the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is unrefined and, combined with the engine’s turbo lag, makes the GLA feel lethargic despite its quick acceleration times. Handling is nimble and responsive, but the ride is stiff and the cabin is loud. Visibility, particularly to the rear, is poor. Standard safety features include a radar-based collision-prevention system. Autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane assist are optional. A front-drive version and a high-performance 375-hp GLA45 are available. 2016 models get an upgraded infotainment system.

OVERALL SCORE 61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

70 Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $32,500-$49,580 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 250, 45 AMG Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (208 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (355 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential

ased on the current C-Class, the rounded GLC replaces the GLK. Plush furnishings inside the quiet cabin are very appealing, although it also has Mercedes’ complex infotainment system. The 241-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder delivers ample power, and is matched to a nine-speed automatic that shifts smoothly and in a timely manner. Overall fuel economy was 22 mpg. The GLC rides comfortably and handles with athleticism. The seats are very comfortable all around, although the rear seats are a bit snug. Forwardcollision warning with automatic braking is standard, but other safety gear like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert comes in confusing options packages. A coupelike SUV, the GLC Coupe, is also in the works.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $38,950-$40,950 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: GLC300 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (241 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,535 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .795 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Drive System

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Transmission Minor

NOT

Brakes Exhaust

Engine Minor

Transmission Major

Electrical

140 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Engine Major

Engine Cooling

Fuel System

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Engine Cooling

Drive System

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,010 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 950 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,850

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Mercedes-Benz GLS

enamed from the M-Class, the GLE is a capable and luxurious midsized SUV. The GLE350 comes with a 3.5-liter, 302-hp V6 that delivers smooth and powerful acceleration with 18 mpg overall and generous towing limits. A four-cylinder turbodiesel is also available. Supple and composed, the GLE rides well and is quiet inside. Steering response is quick but comes up short on feedback and precision. Emergency handling reaches its limits at modest speeds, reducing confidence but remaining secure. First-rate interior finish and well-padded, supportive seats are interior highlights, but the infotainment system is complex. Forward-collision warning with autobraking is standard. A new plug-in hybrid version is said to deliver 18 miles of all-electric driving.

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

75 Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $51,100-$109,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: GLE300d, GLE350, GLE400, GLE500e, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 S AMG Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.1-liter 4 turbodiesel (201 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (302 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (329 hp); 3.0-liter V6 hybrid (436 hp); 5.5-liter V8 turbo (550 hp); 5.5-liter V8 turbo (577 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,915 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,080 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 37.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mercedes-Benz M-Class

Engine Major

Fuel System

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ercedes’ seven-passenger SUV is freshened for the 2017 model year, with revised interior and exterior styling, a nine-speed automatic, an upgraded air suspension, and the addition of the current—and more complex—Mercedes-Benz infotainment system. Our last tested GL was plush and quiet, with supportive seats and a third-row seat that was roomy enough for adults. It had a steady and comfortable ride, but the GL proved very clumsy when pushed to its handling limits. Engines include a 255-hp V6 diesel; a 362-hp, 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6; and a 4.7-liter V8 that puts out 449 hp. The flagship AMG GLS63 churns out 577 hp. Available safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and lane-keeping assist.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5

3 &

Average 3

82 Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $67,050-$124,100 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 350d, 450, 550, AMG S63 Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel (255 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (362 hp); 4.7liter V8 turbo (449 hp); 5.5-liter V8 turbo (577 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic; 9-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 3 & 1

&4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 4 & 2 & 3

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &4 & 5 &5 & 4 &5 & 5 & 5 &4 & 2 & 1

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,660 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,180 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Diesel or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 141

Mercedes-Benz Metris

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

undamentally a commercial van, the Metris can be configured as a near-windowless delivery van or a passenger-hauling shuttle. Approximately the same length as a minivan, the Mercedes is taller and wider, with generous head room and available seats for eight. The sole powertrain is a responsive 208-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four that drives the rear wheels. Handling is relatively nimble, and the tight turning circle is terrific. However, the ride is on the stiff side. The high payload rating is impressive and the low load floor helps with cargo access. Despite its Mercedes badge, the Metris is rather Spartan and far from plush. The long options list includes power sliding side doors, auto climate control, and a rear camera, but lacks minivan mainstays like a rear entertainment system or easy-folding seats.

Base Price: $28,950-$32,500 Body Styles: minivan Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (208 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

he S-Class is brimming with features and qualities that make it stand out among luxury cars. A powerful 4.7-liter turbo V8 provides effortless acceleration and delivered 18 mpg overall in our tests. The S550 brings a whole host of advanced technology, including the ability to follow the road and stop by itself in an emergency. The ride is very plush and steady—the best we’ve ever tested—and the cabin is ultrahushed. Even though it’s large and posh, handling precision is commendable. Many controls are overly complicated, however. A coupe version is available, as well as a plug-in hybrid. A four-seat convertible is also new. Reliability has been well below average.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Base Price: $95,650-$234,050 Body Styles: coupe; sedan Trim Lines: S550, S500e, S63 AMG, S600, S65 AMG Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 hybrid (436 hp); 4.7-liter V8 turbo (449 hp); 6.0-liter V12 turbo (523 hp); 5.5-liter V8 turbo (577 hp); 6.0-liter V12 turbo (621 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

Drive System Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,250 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,875 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

142 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

TROUBLE SPOTS

Fuel System

Electrical

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 4 & 1 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 &5 &4 & 5 & 5 &5 & 5 &5 &3

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,935 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS * &1 &3 NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mercedes-Benz SL

Mercedes-Benz SLC

he SL is a luxurious two-seat convertible but not a hardcore sports car. Made almost entirely of aluminum to save weight, most versions use a 4.7-liter V8 that is punchy, refined, and delivers power effortlessly. A 329-hp, twin-turbo V6 powers the entry-level SL400. The SL has a comfortable ride and capable handling, as befitting its role as a plush, but capable cruiser. The retractable hardtop has adjustable opacity to let sunlight in even when the top is raised. Inside is a quiet and beautifully finished cabin. The SL is full of high-tech features and safety equipment: collision mitigation, adaptive brakes and cruise control, active head restraints, headcurtain airbags, and more.

Base Price: $85,050-$217,550 Body Styles: convertible Trim Lines: SL400, SL550, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbo (329 hp); 4.7-liter V8 turbo (449 hp); 5.5-liter V8 turbo (557 hp); 6.0-liter V12 turbo (621 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

or 2017 the updated SLK also gets a new name: SLC. It features a retractable hardtop that does a great job at keeping the interior quiet. The SLK250 we tested had a 1.8-liter, turbo four-cylinder that delivered ample thrust, while the new SLC300 uses a more powerful 2.0-liter engine coupled to a nine-speed automatic. There is a more powerful V6 SLC43 version. The SLK has crisp, enjoyable handling, with rock-solid body control and communicative steering. It can be both challenging and rewarding when driven on a track. The ride is firm but refined enough even for lengthy trips. The tight cabin is wellfinished, with excellent seats that feature warm-air vents in the head restraints to keep your neck warm during chilly top-down drives.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $47,950-$65,000E Body Styles: convertible Trim Lines: SLC300, SLC43 Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (241 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (362 hp) Transmissions: 9-speed automatic

Transmission Major

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,935 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 50/50 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Fuel System

DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

TROUBLE SPOTS

Drive System

ENOUGH

Brakes Exhaust

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

Std./5

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,295 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 560 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 143

Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper Clubman

ini vehicles are equal parts quirky and fun to drive, whether you have the classic two door or the more practical four-door version. Base Coopers use a turbocharged three-cylinder that sounds a bit gravelly and returned 31 mpg overall with the six-speed automatic. The more-powerful and nicer-sounding Cooper S uses a fourcylinder turbo and got 30 mpg with the six-speed manual. Handling is nimble and sporty but not as agile as previous generations. The ride is rather firm and road noise is noticeable. Controls take some getting used to, and the backseat is still tiny. Options easily push the price past $30,000. A hot-rod John Cooper Works bumps the power to 228 hp and gets firmer suspension. Reliability has been average.

OVERALL SCORE 64-72 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 63 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

68-81

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $20,950-$35,600 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; 4-door hatchback; convertible Trim Lines: Base, S, JCW Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 3 turbo (134 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (189 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (228 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,775 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .63/37 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

144 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Mini Cooper 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 3 & &5 & 5 & 2

Average 3

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Drive System

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31

he Clubman is a longer and wider version of the four-door Coopers, and shares its platform with the BMW X1. Engine choices include a slightly wheeze-sounding three-cylinder turbo in the base car or a quicker and more enjoyable sounding four-cylinder turbo in the S. Both engines can be paired with either a manual or automatic. Handling remains quite nimble though less sporty than the hatchback, and the firm ride is more civilized than its smaller brethren. Unlike the regular Coopers, the Clubman’s backseat is actually habitable. Controls take some getting used to, and the rear view is compromised by the two rear barn doors. With typical options, the Clubman is priced in the low $30,000s and the S can easily get to the high $30,000s. All-wheel-drive versions are also available.

Base Price: $24,100-$29,450 Body Styles: wagon Trim Lines: Base, S Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 3 turbo (134 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (189 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Mini Cooper

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,175 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &3 & 5 &5 &2

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mini Cooper Countryman

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

he SUV-like Countryman is taller than other Minis but still small and fun to drive. The quirky interior has well-shaped, comfortable seats. It’s based on the previous-generation Cooper and retains its quick steering and fantastic agility, along with a stiff ride. The S has a punchy powertrain, and it posted a very good 26 mpg overall in our tests. Familiar Mini downsides carry over, including frustrating controls and a noisy cabin. All-wheel drive is only available on the S. Though the current car is still based on the previous-generation Mini, a Countryman riding on the new Clubman platform will be introduced soon. Reliability has improved to average, but the Countryman scores too low for us to recommend.

Base Price: $22,750-$35,350 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, S, JCW Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 (121 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (181 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (208 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 67 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 45 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,305 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 ConsumerReports.org/cars

ne stint behind the wheel demonstrates why the i-MiEV is the cheapest all-electric cars available. This half-step up from a golf cart is slow, clumsy, and stiff riding. With a bare bones cabin, the i-MiEV is an elbow-rubbing transportation pod, subjecting snuggled occupants to constant noise. The as-tested 56-mile range brings new definition to range anxiety-and it takes six to seven hours to recharge on a 240-volt charger, and 21 hours on a household 110-volt plug. The i-MiEV hurts the electric car movement even more than $2-a-gallon gasoline. If you want to buy an electric vehicle, there are several other choices that feel like real cars.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Mini Cooper Countryman 13

&5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $22,995 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: ES Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: Electric (66 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,610 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 46/54 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 660 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Electric CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 145

Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Mirage

espite its facelift, the Lancer is an outdated and insubstantial compact sedan. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is rough, the continuously variable transmission makes the car moan plaintively, fuel economy is uncompetitive, and the car is sluggish from a stop. Handling is secure, but the ride is a bit rough. The cramped cabin is furnished with drab plastics and has subpar fit and finish, but the controls are simple to use. All-wheel drive is available. 2016 saw the demise of the sporty Evolution version, giving consumers one less reason to consider the Lancer.

Base Price: $17,595-$23,495 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: ES, SE, SEL, GT Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (148 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (168 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT

ts rock-bottom sticker price and thrifty fuel economy of 37 mpg overall conjures an inviting image of an economical runabout. But that mirage quickly dissipates when you drive this tiny, tinny car. Minor updates for 2017 bring a sedan body style, a hint more power, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, upgraded brakes, and improved handling. Yet those enhancements won’t mask the weak, vibrating three-cylinder engine that delivers sluggish acceleration and a raspy chorus of lament. While relatively roomy, the depressing cabin feels drab, cheap, and insubstantial. It slightly improved, to Marginal, in the IIHS small-overlap crash test. Clearly, the Mirage is a weak contender among new subcompact cars, and for the money, there are many much-better used cars.

OVERALL SCORE 63 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE 39 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

Base Price: $12,995-$16,995 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback; sedan Trim Lines: ES, SE, GT Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.2-liter 3 (78 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT

Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,015 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

NOT

Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

FACTS & FIGURES

Engine Major

Transmission Major

Drive System

146 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,085 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

utdated and outclassed, the Outlander struggles to compete. Its high point is a relatively roomy cabin with a standard tiny thirdrow seat, rare in this class. The Outlander received some suspension tweaks that made the ride a bit more absorbent but also more buoyant. Handling is clumsy, with lots of pronounced body lean in corners. Cabin noise levels have dropped slightly. Still, the base 166-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder is mated to a CVT that amplifies the engine’s howl when you ask for more power. Acceleration is leisurely at 10 seconds from 0-60 mph, though its 24 mpg overall is competitive. Top-tier GT trims get a 224-hp, 3.0-liter V6 and six-speed automatic. Forward-collision mitigation and lane-departure warning are available on some trims. The new plug-in hybrid will cost over $40,000.

OVERALL SCORE 61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &B

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $22,995-$30,995 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: ES, SE, SEL, GT Drive Wheels: Front or selectable AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.4-liter 4 (166 hp); 3.0-liter V6 (224 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

his is a shortened version of the Outlander, with reduced rear-seat room and cargo space. Despite the name, when it comes to driving, it’s not exactly a sporty SUV. Handling isn’t that nimble, and acceleration is just adequate. In addition to the 2.0-liter engine, a more powerful 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is available. The Sport’s choppy ride and very noisy cabin further the driving experience. Still, it has a commanding seating position, as well as passenger and cargo versatility. Top-trim all-wheel-drive versions can get expensive enough that the Outlander Sport starts to compete with better SUVs. Recent updates include a redesigned steering wheel, a new 6.1-inch audio display, and new fabric for the seats.

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $19,595-$27,395 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: ES, SE, SEL, GT Drive Wheels: Front or selectable AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (148 hp); 2.4-liter 4 (168 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT

Transmission Major

Electrical Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,610 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,155 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 32.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Drive System

ENOUGH DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

NOT

Fuel System

Brakes Exhaust

Engine Major

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System

FACTS & FIGURES

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,290 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 25.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 147

Nissan Altima

Nissan Armada

his rather generic, though roomy, sedan uses a continuously variable transmission that works well when loafing around but dilutes the driving experience. In our tests we got a decent 29 mpg overall in the 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while the 3.5-liter V6 returned 24 mpg overall. Handling feels mushy and saps confidence with its overly-light steering, though it is ultimately secure. The ride feels superficially soft, but over sharp bumps the suspension loses its absorbency. Controls are easy to use, but the infotainment system is fussy to use and limits phone interaction only to voice commands. Blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems are available. Reliability has been below average.

OVERALL SCORE 59-64 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &V

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

71-80

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $22,500-$32,690 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 2.5, 2.5 S, 2.5 SV, 2.5 SR, 2.5 SL, 3.5 SR, 3.5 SL Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (182 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (270 hp) Transmissions: CVT

TROUBLE SPOTS

Nissan Altima

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,245 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

148 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-29

ssentially a mainstream version of the Infiniti QX80, the redesigned 2017 Nissan Armada is available in rear- and four-wheel-drive configurations. The updated 5.6-liter V8 gains both horsepower and torque, now up to 390 hp and 401 lb.-ft., respectively. Inside, Nissan focused on giving the spacious interior a premium feeling. A variety of seating configurations are available, allowing seven or eight passengers to fit. Advanced safety systems such as forward-collision warning, auto emergency braking, and blind-spot warning come as part of the optional technology package. One of the biggest needs was an improvement over the old Armada’s 13 mpg overall fuel economy. The similar Infiniti QX80 returned 15 mpg overall in our tests. Towing capacity is rated at 8,500 pounds.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 4 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 &5 &4 & 3

Worse than average 2

Base Price: $44,000-$64,000 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SV, SL, Platinum Drive Wheels: Rear or selectable 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.6-liter V8 (390 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,820 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .8,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Nissan Frontier

Nissan Juke

ating back to 2005, the compact Frontier pickup truck shares a platform with the discontinued Xterra SUV and the outgoing larger Titan pickup. In our tests we found the Frontier to be quick and relatively nimble, with a stiff though tolerable ride. The strong 4.0-liter V6 revved smoothly and felt powerful, but fuel economy was a decidedly unimpressive 15 mpg overall. A 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine powers base models. Only crew- and extended-cab body styles are offered, but rear-seat room is tight even in the crew cab. A model with a longer pickup bed is available, but the tailgate is very heavy. Reliability has dropped to below average. A redesign is in the pipeline.

Base Price: $18,290-$34,860 Body Styles: extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: S, SV, DR, PRO-4X, SL Drive Wheels: Rear or part-time 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (152 hp); 4.0-liter V6 (261 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 5-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Nissan Frontier

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,655 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,160 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 6,100

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he funky-looking Juke has the raised ride height and optional AWD of an SUV, but with very carlike handling and maneuverability. The steeply raked rear quarter makes for lousy visibility aft. The rear seat is tight, and the trifling cargo space limits practicality. Tidy handling and Nissan’s punchy 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder make it fun and zippy. Its 24 mpg overall isn’t bad, but the need for premium fuel is a downer. A continuously variable transmission is standard. As in some sporty hatchbacks, a noisy cabin and stiff ride come with the territory. Reliability has been average, but the Juke scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 3 & &5 &5 &5 &4 1 & &4 3 & 2 &

Worse than average 2

Base Price: $20,250-$30,020 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: S, SV, SL, NISMO, NISMO RS Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 turbo (188 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (197 hp); 1.6-liter 4 turbo (215 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,170 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Nissan Juke 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 149

Nissan Leaf

Nissan Maxima

n base form, the electric Leaf has a range of about 75 miles. A full charge took us 6 hours using a 240-volt outlet, but charge times have been shortened since our tests. We measured the equivalent of 106 mpg, and running costs are 3.5 cents per mile at the national average of 11 cents per kWh. The ride is comfortable, but handling isn’t particularly agile. The rear seat is roomy, but the cargo area is rather small. Standard features include a heated steering wheel and seats, and top models get electric heating that uses 30 percent less energy. Reliability has been average, but we can’t recommend the Leaf because it scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test. Both SV and SL versions can be equipped with a 30-kWh battery that provides a claimed 107-mile range.

Base Price: $29,010-$36,790 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: S, SV, SL Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: Electric (107 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

OVERALL SCORE 63 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,360 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Electric CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

150 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

he Maxima uses a smooth, powerful 3.5-liter V6, which is a highlight of the sedan. The continuously variable transmission works well for loafing around, but it saps any aspirations of sporty driving. Handling is mundane and the ride is too stiff for a sedan that costs $40,000. The Maxima has a plush interior, a number of high-tech safety and connectivity features, and uses a fairly straightforward infotainment system. A low roofline inhibits access and visibility. Controls are simple to use, and the front seats are very comfortable and supportive. The rear cabin, however, is rather cramped. An SR version with a stiffer suspension is available, but it lacks a sunroof.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Nissan Leaf 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &5 &5 &4 & 5 &4 &5 &5

3 &

Average 3

Base Price: $32,560-$39,990 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (300 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Nissan Maxima

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,535 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 5

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Nissan Murano

Nissan Pathfinder

issan’s midsized SUV uses a punchy, refined 3.5-liter six-cylinder paired with a continuously variable transmission. The cabin is quiet and well-finished, and has an upscale feel to it. Handling is not very sporty, with overly light steering that reduces driver confidence. The ride is steady and absorbent on the standard 18-inch tires but less so on the Platinum trim’s 20-inchers. Optional safety features include blind-spot and cross-traffic warnings, as well as forwardcollision warning with emergency autobrake. An available 8-inch color display houses the NissanConnect infotainment system. Good crash-test results are a plus. First-year reliability of the redesign has been well above average.

OVERALL SCORE 78 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 53 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $29,660-$40,700 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: S, SV, SL, Platinum Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (260 hp) Transmissions: CVT

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Nissan Murano

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,025 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 33.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ConsumerReports.org/cars

his midsized SUV has seating for up to seven, but the second row’s posture is not ideal and the third-row seat is tight, making it best for children. The 3.5-liter V6 and continuously variable transmission delivered respectable acceleration and 18 mpg overall in our tests. The ride is comfortable enough, but handling lacks agility. The cabin is quiet and spacious, the controls are fairly easy to master, and the passenger-side rear seat can be moved forward with a child seat installed, but the result of that setup is an overly low second-row seat cushion. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are available. Reliability has been well below average. 2017 bring a new V6 that makes 284 hp, a bump in towing capacity to 6,000 pounds, and available automatic emergency braking.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $29,830-$43,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: S, SV, SL, Platinum Drive Wheels: Front or selectable AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (260 hp) Transmissions: CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Nissan Pathfinder

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 2 & 1 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 2 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &5 &5 &5 &4 &5 &5 & 4 & 4 &5 & 4 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,505 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,150 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 39.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &1 &4 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 151

Nissan Quest

Nissan Rogue

he cavernous Quest is a luxurious minivan, with a plush interior and a smooth, compliant ride. The 3.5-liter V6 feels lively and returns a respectable 19 mpg overall. This is a commendably quiet minivan, with plenty of head and leg room in the first two rows, and room for three adults to fit comfortably in the third-row seats. The two rear rows fold to form a flat load floor. But the Quest seats only seven at most, whereas much of the competition can seat eight. The covered cargo bay behind the third-row seat is an uncommon feature in a minivan. A blind-spot detection system is optional. The otherwise-competitive Quest scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

Base Price: $26,580-$43,230 Body Styles: minivan Trim Lines: S, SV, SL, Platinum Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (260 hp) Transmissions: CVT

he easy-to-drive Rogue is one of the better small SUVs. It rides better than most competitors and is fairly quiet and refined. Handling is sound, with prompt steering response and restrained body lean in corners. Power comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder mated to an updated continuously variable transmission that is not overly intrusive. Our AWD Rogue delivered 24 mpg overall. The interior is spacious for the class and nicely finished. The secondrow seat is very roomy, and the small, optional third-row seat allows seating for seven in a pinch. A rear camera is standard, and available safety gear includes rear cross-traffic alert and forward-collision, lane-departure, and blind-spot warnings.

OVERALL SCORE 65 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &V

OVERALL SCORE 71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

Base Price: $23,290-$33,400 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: S, SV, SL Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (170 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Engine Major Engine Minor

Transmission Major

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,570 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,160 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

152 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Nissan Rogue

Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System

Fuel System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Drive System

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,590 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . .31.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,100

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 4 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 4 & 3 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 & 5 &5 &4

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Nissan Sentra

Nissan Titan XD

verall, the compact Sentra trails the class. Its 1.8-liter fourcylinder and continuously variable transmission returned a respectable 29 mpg overall in our tests. A 2016 freshening has resulted in a quieter car, thanks in part to the less intrusive CVT. Handling is fairly responsive and secure, but the ride is stiff. A tall stance aids cabin access, but the cockpit is narrow. A backup camera is standard on the SV. Negatives include well-below-average reliability and a very low owner satisfaction score. It scored Good in the IIHS small-overlap crash test when retested. The freshening also included available safety features such as blind-spot warning, forward emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert.

OVERALL SCORE 51 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &B

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $16,780-$22,170 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: S, FE S, SV, SR, SL Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 (130 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Nissan Sentra 13

&5 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 2 & 1 & 4 & 3 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 5 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,835 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &1 &3 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he new Titan XD (Extra Duty) is positioned to offer features and capabilities usually associated with the larger heavy-duty pickups, but without getting hardcore with a stiff ride. The XD is available with a new V8 Cummins diesel engine. Nissan says that, properly equipped, the Titan will be able to tow 12,000 pounds and carry a payload of 2,000 pounds. The XD has a goose-neck trailer hitch already attached to the frame. A suite of safety and driverassistance features will be offered, including Nissan’s surround-view camera system, blind-spot warning, and moving-object detection. This summer a regular-duty crew-cab Titan arrived with a 5.6-liter gasoline V8 and a seven-speed automatic.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $35,290-$60,520 Body Styles: crew cab Trim Lines: S, SV, PRO-4X, SL, Platinum Reserve Drive Wheels: Rear or part-time 4WD Seating: 3 front, 3 rear Engines: 5.0-liter V8 turbodiesel (310 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,400 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,600 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . .12,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Diesel EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 153

Nissan Versa

Nissan Versa Note

issan’s subcompact Versa sedan is unimpressive, with a noisy and cheap interior. The engine drones as the car gathers speed, and the continuously variable transmission exacerbates engine noise. Handling, though secure, lacks precision, and the car feels clumsy as a result. The ride is compliant and has good isolation from bumps and ruts, but the short, quick pitches make it feel jumpy on the highway. To its credit, the rear cabin is relatively roomy and fuel economy is commendable at 32 mpg overall. Despite some updates, much of the interior still feels low rent. Most controls are straightforward. The Versa sedan scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

Base Price: $11,990-$17,140 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: S, S Plus, SV, SL Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 (109 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT; 4-speed automatic

his little subcompact is quite different from the mediocre Versa sedan. It offers amazing space and versatility, and is quieter and more relaxed to drive than most competitors. Its tall stance and wide doors make it easy to maneuver, park, and hop into and out of. The rear seat is really roomy, and the ride feels comfortable and relaxed. Handling is more responsive than the Versa sedan’s. Our main gripes are its awkward driving position, squishy front seats, and lack of interior storage. The continuously variable transmission can magnify coarse engine noise when accelerating, but its 31 mpg overall is respectable. Standard Bluetooth, available heated seats, and an optional surround-view camera are helpful features. Reliability has been well above average.

OVERALL SCORE 48 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &B*

OVERALL SCORE 66 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &V

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor

Base Price: $14,230-$18,710 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: S, S Plus, SV, SR, SL Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.6-liter 4 (109 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT

Nissan Versa Note 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Major

Drive System

Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,430 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

154 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Fuel System

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,470 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much better than average 5 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Nissan Z

Porsche 718 Boxster

mploying a strong and smooth 3.7-liter V6, the Nissan Z delivers quick acceleration and respectable fuel economy. The six-speed manual is a bit stiff but easy enough to use, and it can match revs on downshifts. Handling is planted, with quick steering and lots of grip, but somehow the car isn’t as engaging to drive as one would expect. The ride is very stiff and choppy, and road and tire noise are constant. The Z’s well-finished interior is cramped, and visibility is lousy. The radio and climate controls are very low, and their labels are small. Convertible and stiffer-riding, higher-performance NISMO versions are available. Recent updated include a noise cancelation/ enhancement system to quiet some of the interior racket.

Base Price: $29,990-$49,400 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: Base, Sport, Touring, Touring Sport, NISMO, NISMO Tech Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 3.7-liter V6 (332 hp); 3.7-liter V6 (350 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 7-speed automatic

or 2017 Porsche’s roadster is renamed the 718 Boxster and offers 2.0- and 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines, replacing the previous Sixes. Both the base and S versions are offered with a choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automated-manual transmission. The 2.7-liter six-cylinder that we tested in the previous base model is very responsive, and the manual shifter is smooth and crisp. Handling is excellent with perfect balance, making the car fun-to-drive. The ride is firm yet compliant and not punishing. The well-insulated power top deploys quickly and can be operated at speeds up to 35-mph. The front trunk is a bonus.

OVERALL SCORE 73 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $63,900-$71,600 Body Styles: convertible Trim Lines: Base, S Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (300 hp); 2.5-liter 4 turbo (350 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual

Transmission Major

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,385 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 54/46 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Fuel System

DATA TO

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

Engine Major

Drive System

ENOUGH

Brakes Exhaust

Porsche Boxster

Transmission Minor

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Transmission Minor Drive System

RELIABILITY HISTORY

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,945 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 155

Porsche 718 Cayman

Porsche 911

or 2017 Porsche’s coupe version of the 718 Boxster is named the 718 Cayman and offers 2.0- and 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines, replacing the previous Sixes. Both the base and S versions are offered with a choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automated-manual transmission. The 2.7-liter six-cylinder in the previous base Boxster that we tested is very responsive, and the manual shifter is smooth and crisp. Handling is excellent, and the ride is pretty compliant for a sports coupe. The ride is firm yet compliant and not punishing. The front trunk and hatchback provide a surprising amount of storage space.

Base Price: $53,900-$69,500 Body Styles: coupe Trim Lines: Base, S Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (300 hp); 2.5-liter 4 turbo (350 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 6-speed manual

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

OVERALL SCORE 87 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Porsche Cayman 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,945 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 45/55 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

156 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

he 911’s iconic shape hides a thoroughly modern sports car, delivering performance and relative refinement. All of the engines have been updated, with the base model getting a 370-hp six and the Carrera S a 420-hp six, both matched with a seven-speed manual. The 911 is quick, with sublime handling that makes you feel directly connected to the machine. The exhaust note is terrific, and driving the seven-speed automated manual is no less enjoyable than the manual transmission. The 911 isn’t particularly taxing on long trips, thanks to its relatively supple ride and sufficient sound deadening to limit headaches, but the low-slung cabin makes access a challenge. The interior is beautifully crafted, but the numerous buttons and switches can be daunting. Reliability has been above average of late.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $89,400-$200,400 Body Styles: convertible; coupe Trim Lines: Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, GT3, Turbo, GTS, R, Turbo S, GT3 R3 Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 3.0-liter 6 turbo (370 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (420 hp); 3.8-liter 6 (430 hp); 3.8-liter 6 (475 hp); 4.0-liter 6 (500 hp); 3.8-liter 6 turbo (540 hp); 3.8-liter 6 turbo (580 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential; 7-speed manual

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RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Porsche 911

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,235 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .38/62 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 660 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 4 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Macan

he midsized Cayenne is one of the sportiest, most responsive SUVs available. The V6 and eight-speed automatic work well together. V8 and hybrid engines are also available. The eight-speed automatic is supersmooth. The ride is supple and steady but rather stiff at low speeds. The seats are supportive and comfortable, and the cargo area is roomy enough. Interior fit and finish is impeccable, but the controls can be confusing. A plug-in hybrid is available, and has a 14-mile electric range. It takes two and a half hours to charge with a 240-volt charger. Reliability has been above average. The diesel version is among those under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emission regulations.

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $58,300-$157,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, S, S E-Hybrid, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (300 hp); 3.0liter V6 hybrid (416 hp); 3.6-liter V6 turbo (420 hp); 3.6-liter V6 turbo (440 hp); 4.8-liter V8 turbo (520 hp); 4.8-liter V8 turbo (570 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 8-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,795 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,280 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . .7,715

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Porsche Cayenne

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Fuel System

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

orsche’s latest model combines much of the performance and feel of its sports cars with the functional package of a small SUV. For 2017 three 3.0-liter V6 turbo engines are offered, ranging from 340 to 400 horsepower, in addition to a new 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. Typically equipped S models land in the low-$60,000 range, and the uplevel Turbo starts at $76,000. Though based on the Audi Q5, the Macan’s power and handling, in addition to the seats, controls, fit and finish, and attention to detail, embody Porsche DNA. The firm ride is steady and controlled, though not plush. The cabin is quite snug, and the center dashboard is a dizzying array of buttons that can be confusing at first. First-year reliability has been below average.

Base Price: $47,500-$76,000 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 2.0T, S, GTS, Turbo Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (252 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (340 hp); 3.0-liter V6 turbo (360 hp); 3.6-liter V6 turbo (400 hp) Transmissions: 7-speed sequential

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Porsche Macan 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,415 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,150 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 5,220

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &2

Worse than average 2

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 157

Porsche Panamera

Ram 1500

his large, four-door luxury car hides beneath a coupe silhouette and remains largely true to the marque. The first-generation Panamera delivered performance and agility along with enough room for four adults to ride comfortably. Handling is agile and enjoyable, with excellent steering and lots of cornering grip. The ride is a bit on the firm side for a luxury car, though. The beautifully finished interior is fitted with a button-dominated center console that can be intimidating at first. A redesigned Panamera has been introduced and goes on sale in January. It features new turbocharged engines and a high-tech, touch-activated control layout. Optional air suspension and advanced safety features are also included.

Base Price: $99,900-$147,950 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: 4S, Turbo Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.9-liter V6 turbo (440 hp); 4.0-liter V8 (550 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed sequential

his is the most comfortable-riding full-sized pickup on the market, yet the Ram is also plenty capable of grunt work. Its coil-spring rear suspension helps cushion the ride, and the spacious cab is luxury-car quiet. Our Big Horn Crew Cab, with its smooth 5.7-liter V8, averaged 15 mpg. The base 3.6-liter V6 is no weakling, but it tows less. The torquey 3.0-liter diesel V6 version is expensive but delivers effortless thrust and returns a class-leading 20 mpg overall. Rear-seat room is generous, and the Uconnect 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system is easy to use. Reliability has been below average.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 63 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

Base Price: $26,145-$52,665 Body Styles: regular cab; extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: Tradesman, Express, HFE, SLT, Lone Star, Big Horn, Outdoorsman, Sport, Laramie, Rebel, Laramie Limited Drive Wheels: Rear, part-time, or permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel (240 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (305 hp); 5.7-liter V8 (395 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,165 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA

158 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes

NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

TROUBLE SPOTS

Ram 1500

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,495 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,270 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . 10,050

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or diesel CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-20

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Electrical

DATA

81-82

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 5 & 1 & 1

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4 & 5 &5 &4

Worse than average 2 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Smart ForTwo

Subaru BRZ

lthough the second-generation Smart has the same 8.8-foot length as the original, the ForTwo is completely redesigned. Tiny dimensions and a diminutive turning circle make it a breeze to park. Handling is fairly responsive but the ride is jittery and jumpy. Noise and vibration from the turbocharged, three-cylinder, 89-hp engine buzzes through the car. The six-speed dual-clutch automatic replaces the original’s rocky-shifting transmission. Given the car’s size and slow acceleration, you’d expect better than 36 mpg overall on premium fuel. Funky interior details abound, but the two-seat cabin is snug and thick roof pillars block some view. Unless parking is at a premium in your neighborhood, it makes more sense to opt for a better-scoring, though perhaps less cute, subcompact.

OVERALL SCORE 41 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

OVERALL SCORE 74 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $14,650-$18,480 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; convertible Trim Lines: Pure, Passion, Prime, Proxy Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front Engines: .9-liter 3 turbo (89 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 5-speed manual

eveloped with Toyota, Subaru’s first rear-wheel-drive sports car features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a choice of a sixspeed manual or automatic. Handling is super-responsive, with cornering precision that makes the BRZ fun to drive. The car turns in promptly, with almost no body lean. The steering is quick and well-weighted. At its limits, the BRZ tends to be more fogiving than its mechanical sibling, the Scion FR-S (soon to be renamed Toyota 86). The ride is also a bit more jittery than in the FR-S. The cabin is relatively plain, with well-bolstered sport seats, but the ride and elevated noise can be taxing. Reliability of the BRZ has improved to average.

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Base Price: $25,395-$28,495 Body Styles: coupe Trim Lines: Premium, Limited Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (200 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Transmission Minor

Fuel System

Drive System

Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,140 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 45/55 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Major

Drive System

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Brakes

Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,770 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Subaru BRZ 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 159

Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru Forester

he Crosstrek is a small quasi-SUV version of the Impreza hatchback, with a raised ride height that gives it enough clearance to slosh through deeply rutted roads. It may appeal to those people who live at the end of a dirt road and don’t want anything big and bulky. The cabin is rather noisy, the ride is stiff, and the 148-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine occasionally has to work hard, but fuel economy is a gratifying 26 mpg. The costlier Hybrid barely improves on that, at 28 mpg. At least the Hybrid is a little quieter and sounds less strained. Either way, the regular Impreza hatch may be a better choice: It’s quieter, quicker, cheaper, and better riding.

OVERALL SCORE 75-76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 83 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $21,595-$29,995 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: Base, Premium, Limited, Hybrid, Hybrid Touring Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (148 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (160 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; CVT

TROUBLE SPOTS

Subaru Crosstrek

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,165 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

160 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-28

itting the sweet spot among small SUVs, the Forester delivers a spacious interior, impressive safety equipment and crashworthiness, and outstanding visibility in a right-sized, affordable package. Fuel economy is excellent at 26 mpg overall, especially given the standard AWD. The ride is supple and handling is very secure. Engine noise is pronounced at times. Controls are straightforward and easy to use. The infotainment and connectivity systems have finally been updated with an intuitive touch screen. Mid-trim Foresters bring a lot of content for the money, but it’s easy to crest $30,000 with options packages. A feisty turbo comes with XT trim but compromises the value equation. The optional (and recommended) EyeSight system includes lane-departure warning and front-collision warning.

Base Price: $22,595-$34,295 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 2.5i Touring, 2.0XT Premium, 2.0XT Touring Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (170 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (250 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Subaru Forester

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,370 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 35.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4

Better than average 4 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Subaru Impreza

Subaru Legacy

he redesigned 2017 Impreza compact will have more available safety equipment and a roomier interior. Still available in both sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, the Impreza continues to feature standard all-wheel drive. The new platform, with its longer wheelbase and wider cabin, should improve stability and ride comfort while aiding noise suppression. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine is mated to a standard continuously variable transmission, and Subaru says the Impreza won’t be offered with a manual gearbox. High trim lines feature a “manual mode” with paddle shifters that allow the driver to override the transmission through seven pre-set ratios. Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced safety gear is available.

Base Price: $18,700-$24,000E Body Styles: sedan; wagon Trim Lines: 2.0i, Premium, Sport, Limited Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (152 hp) Transmissions: CVT

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 83 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Subaru Impreza

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,015 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

he Legacy is one of the roomier, quieter, and more refined midsized sedans—attributes that help it stand as one of our top-scoring vehicles in the class. Its ride is better than some luxury cars, and handling is sound and secure. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder is no rocket, but it gets the job done and returns 26 mpg overall. A stronger, quieter 3.6-liter six-cylinder is also available. The mostly unobtrusive CVT mimics a conventional automatic. The infotainment system includes a contemporary touch screen with Internet radio and Bluetooth. A rear camera is standard. Advanced safety gear like blind-spot monitoring and the EyeSight safety suite, including forward-collision warning with automatic braking, is optional.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

Base Price: $21,995-$31,640 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 2.5 Sport, 3.6R Limited Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (175 hp); 3.6-liter 6 (256 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Subaru Legacy

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,470 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 161

Subaru Outback

Subaru WRX/STi

n SUV alternative for the non-conformist, the Outback wagon is roomy, functional, and appeals to the practical-minded buyer. It rides very comfortably, with secure handling. Standard AWD delivers reassuring traction in wintry conditions. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder returns 24 mpg overall, and drives through a standard continuously variable transmission. Opting for the 3.6-liter six-cylinder makes the car quicker, quieter, and thirstier, conceding 2 mpg. The controls are all easy-to-use, including the touch-screen infotainment system. The wagon’s generous rear seat is roomy enough for three adults. The generous cargo area has more room than a comparable Forester or Toyota RAV4, with a lower loading height to boot. The affordable EyeSight safety suite adds blindspot monitoring and forward-collision warning with automatic braking.

OVERALL SCORE 80-81 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 70 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

82-85

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $25,645-$38,195 Body Styles: wagon Trim Lines: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 2.5i Touring, 3.6R Limited, 3.6R Touring Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (175 hp); 3.6-liter 6 (256 hp) Transmissions: CVT

TROUBLE SPOTS

Subaru Outback

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,640 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,700

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

162 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 3 & &5 &5 &4

Better than average 4

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-24

ith its blistering acceleration and tenacious cornering grip, the WRX is built for the enthusiast driver. A six-speed manual is standard, but a continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters is offered. Power is abundant and handling is nimble, but the ride is very stiff and choppy, and the stiff-feeling shifter and abrupt clutch engagement make the WRX frustrating as a daily driver. The higher-performance WRX STi has transmission and suspension differences along with a stronger 305-hp engine. New for 2016 is Subaru’s Eyesight assistance package, which includes lane-keep assist, pre-collision braking, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert are also available. Reliability has been average.

Base Price: $26,595-$39,995 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: WRX, WRX Premium, WRX Limited, STi, STi Limited Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (268 hp); 2.5-liter 4 turbo (305 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Subaru Impreza WRX/STI

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,320 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&4 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model X

eceiving a midyear freshening, this sporty four-door luxury car seats five (or seven with the optional rear-facing jump seats) and just happens to be electric. With its optional 90-kWh battery—the largest available—it has a claimed range of 294 miles. The 85-kWh P85D that we tested had about a 200-mile range and can be fully charged in as little as 5 hours on a dedicated Tesla connector. Performance is exceptional, with thrilling acceleration, pinpoint handling, and a firm yet comfortable ride. A huge iPad-like center screen controls many functions. Drawbacks include tight access, restricted visibility, and range limitations, especially in cold weather. All-wheel drive and active safety features are also available. Reliability has dropped to below average.

OVERALL SCORE 77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

ROAD TEST SCORE

100 Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $70,000-$108,000 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: 60, 60D, 75, 75D, 90D, P90D Drive Wheels: Rear or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: Electric (315 hp); Electric (328 hp); Electric (417 hp); Electric (463 hp); Electric (532 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Tesla Model S

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,960 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 890 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Electric CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he electric-powered Model X SUV features back doors that open up and out of the way, giving easy access to rear seats. But these massive doors take their time to open and close. The huge windshield extends up and over the front-seat occupants, making them feel as if they are in a futuristic capsule. Buyers can opt for five-, six-, or seven-passenger seating configurations, but unlike every other SUV, the second row doesn’t fold. Like the S, the Model X has a large, flat battery pack under the floor. The base 75-kWh battery should give the car a range of about 237 miles. The larger battery has a 90-kWh capacity with an EPA-estimated range of 257 miles, with the performance P90D version pegged at a 250-mile range. All-wheel drive is standard.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 4 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 3 & 3 & &5 &5 &5 & 2 & 3 3 & & 4

Worse than average 2

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $80,000-$115,500 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: 75D, 90D, P90D Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: Electric (328 hp); Electric (518 hp); Electric (762 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,270 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 49/51 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,170 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Electric EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 163

Toyota 4Runner

Toyota 86

ough and ready to tackle off-roading adventures, the truckbased 4Runner falls short of most modern SUVs. Its roughsounding 4.0-liter V6 is powerful and reasonably fuel-efficient. But the ride is unsettled, and handling is clumsy. The body leans while cornering, and the bobbing and bouncing ride chips away at driver confidence. Limited versions have a tighter suspension with somewhat better control, but at the expense of a stiffer ride. A high step-in and low ceiling compromise access and driving position. The SR5’s 4WD system is part-time only. A third-row seat is optional, and the power-retractable rear window is handy. Reliability is well above average, but it scores too low to be recommended.

Base Price: $33,810-$454,160 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SR5, Trail, TRD Pro, Limited Drive Wheels: Rear, part-time, or permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 4.0-liter V6 (270 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 61 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 74 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Toyota 4Runner

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,665 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,155 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 44.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,700

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

164 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

or 2017, the Scion FR-S is renamed as the Toyota 86. Jointly developed with Subaru, the rear-wheel-drive 86 features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, teamed with a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Its low curb weight and optimal weight distribution give it precise handling and confident balance at its limits. In corners, the car turns in promptly, with almost no body lean. The steering is well-weighted, and the ride is slightly more compliant than its Subaru BRZ sibling. Inside, the cabin is relatively plain, with well-bolstered sport seats, but the stiff ride and elevated noise can be taxing. The vestigial rear seats are best left for cargo. 2016 brought a standard audio system with a 7-inch touch-screen display. Reliability has improved to average of late.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $25,305-$30,610 Body Styles: coupe Trim Lines: Base, RS 2.0 Drive Wheels: Rear Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 (205 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Scion FR-S

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 4 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Toyota Avalon

Toyota Camry

pacious and luxurious, the Avalon is an old-school big sedan, updated for modern times. Power comes from a lively 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6, which delivers punchy performance and a commendable 24 mpg overall. The four-cylinder hybrid version delivers an outstanding 36 mpg overall. Easy-to-use controls include a straightforward touch-screen infotainment system. Interior noise is subdued. Earlier Avalons had an overly stiff ride, but Toyota rectified that with improvements for 2016, without degrading the car’s handling. Now the ride fits the car’s mission as being a plush and comfortable cruiser. The improvements included the addition of several advanced safety features. Reliability has been above average.

Base Price: $32,650-$41,950 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: XLE, Premium, Touring, Limited, Hybrid Premium, Hybrid Touring, Hybrid Limited Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 hybrid (200 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (268 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 79 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 83-84 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,590 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 930 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Toyota Avalon

Engine Major

Drive System

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

ure, it might seem vanilla, but the Camry truly delivers what shoppers want in a midsize sedan. And vanilla happens to be the best-selling flavor of ice cream. The Camry’s no-fuss driving experience-great outward visibility, controls that fall easily to hand, a roomy interior-may not be the most thrilling in its class, but it’s far from its undeserved boring reputation. A quiet cabin, slick powertrains, a comfortable ride, and sound handling make it pleasant and capable. Year after year this sedan delivers outstanding reliability and solid owner satisfaction. The Camry also scored impressive crash-test results, as well as very competitive fuel economy, which tops out with the Hybrid’s 38 mpg.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

Better than average 4

Base Price: $23,070-$31,370 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: LE, SE, Hybrid LE, Hybrid SE, Hybrid XLE, XLE, XSE Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (173 hp); 2.5-liter 4 (178 hp); 2.5-liter 4 hybrid (200 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (268 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

84-87 Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Toyota Camry 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,155 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-38

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 165

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla iM

he Corolla delivers a relatively comfortable ride for a small car and has a quiet, spacious interior. Handling is lackluster but very secure. A sportier S version has a more taut, responsive suspension. The continuously variable transmission is adequate in delivering power to the wheels. Fuel economy is excellent at 32 mpg overall, and returns 43 mpg on the highway. Interior upgrades include standard Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control, and a touch-screen radio with simple controls. Inside, padded and stitched surfaces contrast with a number of drab, hard-plastic bits. The rear seat is one of the roomiest in the category.

Base Price: $17,300-$23,125 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: L, LE, LE Plus, LE Premium, LE Eco, S, S Plus, S Premium Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 (132 hp); 1.8-liter 4 (140 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT; 4-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 72 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Toyota Corolla 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,900 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &4 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

166 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

he iM hatchback is essentially a better-handling Corolla hatchback, and is highlighted by its angular styling and sub-$20,000 starting price. Sized like a Mazda3, the iM gets a 137-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine hooked up to either a six-speed manual or a CVT. We got 31 mpg overall with the CVT in our testing. The iM possesses rewarding handling, a civilized ride, and a decent level of standard equipment, including automatic climate control and audio controls on the steering wheel. But acceleration is short on zip, and neither the ride nor the rear seat is as comfortable as the Corolla’s. Unfortunately, a sunroof is not available. Standard safety equipment includes a backup camera and eight airbags.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $18,460-$19,200 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 (137 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; CVT

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,990 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

DATA NEW

Brakes Exhaust

MODEL

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New ConsumerReports.org/cars

Toyota Highlander

Toyota Land Cruiser

he Toyota Highlander ranks among the best midsized, three-row SUVs, with a desirable balance of absorbent ride, responsive handling, and generous interior space. A third row allows seating for eight in a pinch—or seven with optional second-row captain’s chairs—and folds flat easily for more cargo stowage. The smooth and punchy 3.5-liter V6 is matched to a six-speed automatic (an eight-speed arrives for 2017). The Hybrid gets 25 mpg overall compared to the conventional engine’s 20. It’s a long reach to some controls, particularly the standard 6.1-inch touch screen. The Entune system includes a larger 8-inch screen. A comprehensive safety suite will also be available for the 2017 model year.

OVERALL SCORE 82-83 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z* OWNER SATISFACTION &Z*

ROAD TEST SCORE

84-85

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $30,490-$50,485 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited, Hybrid Limited Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 2.7-liter 4 (185 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (270 hp); 3.5-liter V6 hybrid (280 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Toyota Highlander

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,490 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .55/45 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,385 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 40.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &4 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

68 Std./5

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-25

oyota’s flagship SUV has the same powerful 5.7-liter V8 as the Tundra pickup. It is luxurious, quick, quiet, comfortable, and refined, but it is thirsty for fuel at 14 mpg overall. It rides very comfortably, and the interior is roomy and well-finished. Expect terrific off-road performance, helped by its crawl mode to ascend and descend steep slopes. But on-road handling falls well short. The Land Cruiser receives a number of interior and exterior styling updates for 2016, as well as a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard. Electronic connectivity is also updated, with Toyota’s Entune touch-screen audio system standard.

Base Price: $83,825 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Permanent 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.7-liter V8 (381 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

NOT

Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,855 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .52/48 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,230 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .8,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

ENOUGH DATA

Brakes Exhaust

Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks

RATE

Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 167

Toyota Mirai

Toyota Prius

he $57,000 Mirai is Toyota’s hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle. While it has a claimed range of 300 miles on a fill-up of 5 kg of hydrogen (the energy equivalent of 5 gallons of gas), the sedan is sold only in areas near existing or planned fueling stations on the coasts. Acceleration from the 153-hp electric motor feels sluggish in this heavy car, but otherwise it feels like driving a conventional car. It’s about the size of a Camry and seats four. There is only one wellequipped trimline, but the optional power takeoff can let owners run their home if the power goes out. It is on sale in California and goes on sale soon in the Northeast U.S. Toyota is offering free fuel for the duration of the $499 per month, three-year lease.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $57,500 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: Electric (153 hp) Transmissions: 1-speed direct

he new Prius is longer, lower, and wider than the previous version. It relies on a new platform with an independent rear suspension that contributes to more responsive handling and a steadier ride. We got 52 mpg overall, a significant improvement over the previous-generation’s 44 mpg. Colorful digital gauges dominate the dashboard and make it easier to access the infotainment features. The sensible Prius has always been about efficiency and low running costs. The car can still drive solely on electric, up to about 25 mph typically, and the engine is now quieter when it kicks in. However, the seats are rather chintzy, tire noise is noticeable, and cabin access is not as easy because of the car’s lower stance. A plug-in version, the Prius Prime, arrives in the fall.

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $24,200-$30,000 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: Two, Two Eco, Three, Three Touring, Four, Four Touring Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 hybrid (121 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,810 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 690 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

168 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Toyota Prius

Transmission Major

Drive System

Fuel System

Electrical

Hydrogen EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

TROUBLE SPOTS

Transmission Minor Drive System

Brakes

Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Fuel System

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,080 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Better than average 4

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Toyota Prius C

Toyota Prius V

his smaller, less expensive alternative to the regular Prius feels more like a subcompact than a sophisticated hybrid. In the end, you pretty much get what you pay for. It has a harsh ride, a noisy engine and cabin, and slow acceleration. The interior looks and feels cheap, the driving position and rear seats are cramped, and there’s little cargo space. However, its 37 mpg is the best city fuel economy of any car we’ve tested, and its 43 mpg overall is just 1 mpg less than the previous-generation Prius hatchback. Its tiny dimensions make it a natural for urban driving. Reliability is well above average, but the Prius C scored too low to be recommended.

OVERALL SCORE 64 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $19,560-$24,495 Body Styles: 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: One, Two, Persona SE, Three, Four Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 4 hybrid (99 hp) Transmissions: CVT

TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Toyota Prius C 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,545 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 845 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much better than average 5 PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

his wagon version of the previous-generation Prius offers a very roomy rear seat and a generous cargo area. It’s about the size of the Ford C-Max, its main competitor. Despite its extra weight and a less aerodynamic shape, the V still got an excellent 41 mpg overall in our tests. The electric motor and engine have to work fairly hard, especially when the car is loaded with cargo. The ride is comfortable and composed, but uneven pavement can cause an annoying side-to-side rocking. Handling is sound, with responsive, but uninspiring, steering. Rear visibility is better than in the standard Prius. The Prius V now scores a Good in the latest IIHS small-overlap crash test. A larger 4.1-inch dashtop screen for trip computer functions is also new.

Base Price: $26,675-$30,935 Body Styles: wagon Trim Lines: Two, Three, Four, Five Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 hybrid (134 hp) Transmissions: CVT

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Toyota Prius V 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 1 &

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,280 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 3 & VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 169

Toyota RAV4

Toyota Sequoia

or years, the RAV4 has consistently been among the top-ranked small SUVs. Freshened for 2016, the cabin is quieter; the ride is smoother; it has a suite of advanced safety features; and offers a frugal hybrid version. The energetic 2.5-liter four-cylinder and smooth six-speed automatic returned 24 mpg overall in our tests of an AWD version. The hybrid version gets a terrific 31 mpg overall. Handling is responsive and very secure. Inside, the controls are clear and intuitive. While the XLE comes with the automatic climate control and sunroof, you must step up to the Limited trim to get adjustable lumbar support and the more-comfortable faux-leather seats. Access is very easy, and the rear seat is roomy.

OVERALL SCORE 76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 66 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

74-75

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $24,350-$33,610 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: LE, XLE, SE, Limited, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid Limited Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.5-liter 4 (176 hp); 2.5-liter 4 hybrid (194 hp) Transmissions: CVT; 6-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Toyota RAV4 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,620 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-31

170 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

he big, eight-passenger Sequoia has a strong and refined 5.7-liter V8 paired to a six-speed automatic. That combination returned 15 mpg overall in our tests. Rear- and selectable, full-time four-wheel drive are available. The ride is firm, and handling is clumsy but secure. The independent rear suspension allows the third-row seat to fold flat into a well. It’s a high step-in to get into the cabin, but once inside passengers will find the interior to be very roomy. Updates for 2016 include available blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning. Electronic connectivity is also updated, with Toyota’s Entune touch-screen audio system standard. Reliability has been well above average, but the Sequoia scores too low for us to recommend it.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $45,325-$65,080 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: SR5, Limited, Platinum Drive Wheels: Rear or selectable 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 5.7-liter V8 (381 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Toyota Sequoia

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,025 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 51/49 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,230 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,300

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &5 &5 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much better than average 5 PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Toyota Sienna

Toyota Tacoma

s minivans go the Sienna is a sensible choice, but it isn’t very engaging to drive. Interior fit and finish and controls were improved in 2015, and the cabin was made quieter. The Sienna rides very comfortably, but handling is lackluster. The 3.5-liter V6 is lively and returns a respectable 20 mpg overall. The all-wheel-drive version--the only such minivan on the market--sacrifices just 1 mpg. An eighth seat cleverly stores in the back when it isn’t installed in place. That update also brought a standard backup camera, an additional LATCH attachment, and a front-passenger seat-cushion airbag. Reliability has been above average. That and the availability of all-wheel drive are the Sienna’s biggest advantages over the Honda Odyssey.

OVERALL SCORE 78-80 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 54 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

78-80

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $28,850-$46,410 Body Styles: minivan Trim Lines: L, LE, SE, XLE, XLE AWD, Limited Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 3 third Engines: 3.5-liter V6 (266 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Toyota Sienna

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,445 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,390 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 70.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-20

he redesigned 2016 Tacoma features a new 3.5-liter V6 hooked up to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. A 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, which can be mated to a five-speed manual, is also available. Both two- and four-wheel-drive models are offered. Our four-wheel-drive V6 Tacoma delivered a good 19 mpg overall. Overall, while the truck is tough-as-nails, with peerless reliability and off-road prowess, but it’s rather primitive. The ride remains stiff, handling is ponderous, the cabin is loud, and the driving position is still awkwardly low. The modern connectivity features are welcome. Safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 2 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 &5 &5

Better than average 4

Base Price: $23,660-$38,180 Body Styles: extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited Drive Wheels: Rear or part-time 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.7-liter 4 (159 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (278 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Toyota Tacoma

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,450 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 56/44 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .6,400

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

3 &

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 171

Toyota Tundra

Toyota Yaris

espite a recent freshening that updated the exterior and interior, including improved controls, the Tundra feels outclassed by newer and more refined competitors. It offers a standard two-door regular cab and two sizes of crew cabs. You can choose between a very powerful 5.7-liter V8 and a 4.6-liter V8. The six-speed automatic is very smooth and responsive. Handling is secure, but the ride with the TRD package is way too stiff. The cabin is very roomy, but it’s a long reach to some controls. Towing performance is extremely capable. The damped rear tailgate is easy to raise and lower. Reliability has been above average, but the Tundra scores too low to be recommended.

Base Price: $29,140-$49,580 Body Styles: regular cab; extended cab; crew cab Trim Lines: Base, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition Drive Wheels: Rear or part-time 4WD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 4.6-liter V8 (310 hp); 5.7liter V8 (381 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 55 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &Z* OWNER SATISFACTION &C*

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

Toyota Tundra 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,740 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,395 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . .10,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &4 &5 &5 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much better than average 5

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

172 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ven after its face-lift last year, the Yaris remains a slow, noisy, and tinny two- or four-door subcompact with a choppy ride and an awkward driving position. The standard drivetrain is a 1.5liter, four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic optional. In our tests the Yaris returned a commendable 32 mpg overall. One highlight of the Yaris is its rear seat, which is roomy for the class. All versions have Toyota’s Entune infotainment system, with a 6.1-inch touch screen and phone connectivity. A dealer-installed navigation system is available as an option. If you are set on buying a subcompact, the Yaris iA is more fuel efficient and a more pleasant choice.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Base Price: $14,895-$17,670 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: L, LE, SE Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 4 (106 hp) Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

NOT

Drive System Fuel System

ENOUGH

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,385 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 845 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

DATA

Brakes

Exhaust Paint/Trim

RATE

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

NA ConsumerReports.org/cars

Toyota Yaris iA

Volkswagen Beetle

or 2017 the Scion iA is renamed the Toyota Yaris iA. This fourdoor sedan is actually built by Mazda and based on the new Mazda2 (not sold in the U.S.) It is powered by a 106-hp, 1.5-liter fourcylinder hooked up to either a six-speed manual or automatic. In our testing we got an impressive 35 mpg overall with the automatic. The iA proves to be quite pleasant for a subcompact with nimble handling and semi-decent interior decor. It also comes with a standard low-speed pre-collision system that uses a laser sensor to help the driver avoid collisions. A backup camera is standard. Inside, the iA gets steering-wheel controls for the audio, a 7-inch center screen display controlled via a center knob, just like in current Mazda models. A navigation system is a dealer-installed option.

OVERALL SCORE 65 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 47 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $15,700-$16,800 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: — Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.5-liter 4 (106 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

he Beetle coupe and convertible have a roomy-enough interior and decent driving experience. Though the ride is acceptable, it’s a bit unsettled. Handling is responsive but not sporty, and gets sloppy in demanding conditions. The 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder has better performance and fuel economy than the 2.5-liter five-cylinder it replaced. Wind noise is excessive, rear visibility is limited, and the long clutch-pedal travel and wide center console compromise the driving position. Updates for 2016 include an available rear-view camera and blind-spot detection. Reliability has been much below average. The diesel version is under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emissions regulations.

Std./3

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Base Price: $19,595-$36,050 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; convertible Trim Lines: 1.8T, R-Line Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 2 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 turbo (170 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (210 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

Drive System Fuel System

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,420 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 61/39 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes

Volkswagen Beetle

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor

Fuel System Electrical

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

TROUBLE SPOTS

Drive System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

RELIABILITY HISTORY

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 1 & 3 & 2 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 3 & 4 & 5

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,040 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .835 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &3 &1 VERDICTS * NEW CAR Much worse than average 1 PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 173

Volkswagen CC

Volkswagen Golf

tyle trumps function in the CC, bringing a snug interior, compromised visibility, and difficult cabin access. But the CC is enjoyable to drive, with agile and responsive handling and a taut, composed ride. The 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is strong and returns 26 mpg overall with the six-speed automated manual transmission. A stronger 280-hp, 3.6-liter V6 and AWD are optional. The interior is very well-finished, with comfortable seats up front and, in a pinch, rear seating for three. Some features, such as a sunroof and rear-view camera, are available only on higher-trim versions. The 2016 model year brought USB ports, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Reliability has improved to above average.

OVERALL SCORE 74 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 63 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &B OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $32,670-$37,820 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: Base, Sport, R-Line, Executive, V6 Executive Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (200 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (280 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Volkswagen CC

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,420 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

174 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Better than average 4

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

he Golf is a notch above other compacts and is priced accordingly. Power comes from a smooth, strong 170-hp, 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder that returned 28 mpg overall in our tests with the six-speed automatic. Handling is very responsive, the ride is comfortable, and the quiet cabin has a solid and upscale feel. A high-performance all-wheel-drive Golf R and an electric eGolf complete the line. USB ports were added for 2016, as well as lanekeeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert. Reliability of the current design has been much below average. The diesel version is under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emissions regulations.

Base Price: $18,495-$38,995 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: 1.8T, S, SE, SEL, eGolf, R Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: Electric (115 hp); 1.8-liter 4 turbo (170 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (292 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 1-speed direct; 6-speed automatic

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Volkswagen Golf

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 3 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &4 &5 & 4 &4

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,090 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,005 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR &3 &3 &1 VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION Much worse than average 1

Regular or premium or electric CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Volkswagen GTI

Volkswagen Jetta

he GTI uses a 210-hp, 2.0-liter turbo, driving through either a sixspeed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. We got an impressive 29 mpg overall with our manual-transmission test car. The GTI is fun to drive, with a taut ride that won’t beat you up. Handling is very lively, and throttle response is immediate. Inside is a high-quality, quiet, and refined interior with comfortable seats. That all adds up to a sporty car that doesn’t wear on your patience during a long drive. The infotainment system includes 3D navigation and an easy-to-use touch screen. With 2016 comes available lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert. Reliability of the redesign has been average.

OVERALL SCORE 75 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &Z

OVERALL SCORE 68-71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $24,995-$32,730 Body Styles: 2-door hatchback; 4-door hatchback Trim Lines: S, SE, Autobahn Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (210 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (220 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 6-speed manual

TROUBLE SPOTS

Volkswagen GTI

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major

Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,155 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,045 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 1 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 3 & 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4

Average 3

74-79

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Minor

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

little bigger than most compact sedans, the Jetta is a roomy, comfortable, and practical choice. It has an absorbent and composed ride, and handling is quite nimble. The 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder is smooth and flexible, and returns an excellent 30 mpg. The refined and energetic 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder got 32 mpg overall in our testing. The GLI trim uses a strong turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder and has a sportier suspension, better brakes, and a richer-feeling interior than the other Jettas. The Hybrid’s 1.4-liter turbo engine, electric motor, and seven-speed automated manual work seamlessly, returning 37 mpg overall in our tests, but it will be dropped for 2017. The diesel version is under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emissions regulations.

Base Price: $17,680-$31,120 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: S, SE, Sport, SEL, GLI SE, GLI SEL, Hybrid SEL Premium Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.4-liter 4 turbo (150 hp); 1.4-liter 4 hybrid (170 hp); 1.8-liter 4 turbo (170 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (210 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 7-speed sequential; 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Volkswagen Jetta

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,040 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,025 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-37

Opt.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 3 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 &5 & 3 3 &

Average 3

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 175

Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Tiguan

ith generous interior space, responsive handling, and a comfortable, quiet ride, the Passat is a competitive midsized sedan. The primary powertrain is an energetic 1.8-liter turbo fourcylinder and a six-speed automatic. High-end versions use a powerful 3.6-liter V6. The 1.8-liter turbo averaged a very good 28 mpg overall and 39 on the highway. Front seats are very accommodating. Extra-spacious rear seats are a big plus, and the trunk is huge. For 2016 VW added USB ports, improved interior fit and finish, and introduced new active safety features. Reliability has been average. The diesel version is under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emissions regulations.

OVERALL SCORE 74-76 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 69 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

79-82

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $22,440-$36,835 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: S, SE, SEL, SEL Premium Drive Wheels: Front Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 1.8-liter 4 turbo (170 hp); 3.6-liter V6 (280 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed sequential; 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

TROUBLE SPOTS

Volkswagen Passat

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling

Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,320 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 59/41 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,115 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 1,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

176 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Transmission Major

Regular or premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23-28

his solid and nimble small SUV has high-end fit and finish and spacious rear seating. Handling is very responsive and enjoyable, with sharp steering and strong cornering grip that keeps the Tiguan secure and unflappable at its limits. With its 19-inch tires, the top-trim SEL rides stiffly. The lower S and SE trim lines, with 17-inch tires, ride more comfortably and quietly. Automatic climate control is available only on the SEL. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is smooth and yielded 21 mpg overall in our tests. A well-equipped Tiguan can easily climb into the mid-$30,000 range. Recent updates include greater availability of keyless access with push-button start, more trim lines getting a power driver’s seat, and a rear-view camera. Reliability has been average.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 2

Average 3

Base Price: $24,890-$36,420 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: S, R-Line, SE, SEL Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (200 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Volkswagen Tiguan

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,785 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . 57/43 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,145 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .2,200

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 & 5 & 3 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Volkswagen Touareg

Volvo S60

he Touareg has the feel of a sharp-handling, luxury SUV, with a plush interior and wide, supportive seats that deliver all-day comfort. The standard engine is a 3.6-liter V6 mated to an eightspeed automatic transmission. In our tests of the V6 turbodiesel, it pulls effortlessly and has a generous towing capacity. The lowspeed ride is overly firm, but it’s steady on the highway. The cabin is quiet and access is easy, but the almost-$50,000 Touareg we sampled lacked some common luxury features, such as a sunroof. The top-of-the-line hybrid version has been discontinued. The diesel version is under investigation by the EPA for not complying with emissions regulations.

Base Price: $42,705-$59,745 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: V6 Drive Wheels: AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 3.6-liter V6 (280 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &X

OVERALL SCORE 77 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &X OWNER SATISFACTION &C

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Opt.

CRASH PREVENTION

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Volkswagen Touareg

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,060 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,105 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 34.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . . 7,700

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he S60 offers fairly agile handling but a stiff ride. A smooth and refined turbo four-cylinder and an eight-speed automatic are new, and they bring respectable performance and fuel economy. Front- and all-wheel drive are available. The interior is quiet, wellfinished, and logically laid out, and the front seats are very comfortable. But the rear seat is tight, and the trunk is small. Safety features include City Safety, which can automatically brake the car to prevent a collision, as well as an optional pedestrian-avoidance system. The AWD Cross Country sedan has a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder turbo and raised ground clearance. The Inscription model adds almost 3 inches of rear leg room. Reliability has been above average.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 2

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 3

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Average 3

Base Price: $34,150-$59,300 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: T5 Drive-E, T5, T6 DriveE, Cross Country, Inscription, T6 R-Design, Polestar Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 2.5-liter 5 turbo (250 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (302 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (325 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (345 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

Std./3

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS

Volvo S60

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,610 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 62/38 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,025 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 3

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 3 & 5 & 4 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 3 & &4

Better than average 4

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 177

Volvo S90

Volvo V60

he S90 shares the same platform, powertrains, and interior components as the XC90 SUV, including the infotainment touchscreen system that’s unintuitive to use. All models use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but with different power outputs. Base T5 versions produce 250 horsepower. A turbocharged/supercharged variant in the T6 produces 316 hp, while the top-of-the-line T8 plug-in hybrid variant puts out 410 hp. All are paired with an eight-speed automatic. Active safety features include all the latest and Volvo’s CitySafe system includes a large animal detection option to help detect a deer from afar. The S90 starts at $46,950 and competes with midsized luxury sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz E-class and BMW 5 Series. A V90 wagon version will arrive in 2017.

OVERALL SCORE NA PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

OVERALL SCORE 60 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V OWNER SATISFACTION &X

ROAD TEST SCORE

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $46,950-$56,250 Body Styles: sedan Trim Lines: T5 Momentum, T6 Momentum, T5 Inscription, T6 Inscription, T8 Plug-in Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (250 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (316 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (407 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

his wagon version of the S60 has fairly agile handling, but the ride is overly firm. The new four-cylinder turbo we tested in the S60 provided lively acceleration and respectable fuel economy. Opting for all-wheel drive brings the older, gruff-sounding five-cylinder. The top-level T6 trim has standard all-wheel drive and is quick and refined. The interior is quiet and logically laid out, but some controls are complicated. The front seats are very comfortable, but the rear is tight. Cargo space is modest for a wagon. Safety features include automatic braking and an optional pedestrian-detection system. The new AWD Cross County version has higher ground clearance. Firstyear reliability has been below average.

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $36,150-$60,900 Body Styles: wagon Trim Lines: T5 Drive-E, Cross Country, T6 R-Design, Polestar Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 2.5-liter 5 turbo (250 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (325 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (345 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,220 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NA Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .4,600

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium EPA combined mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

178 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Brakes

NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

TROUBLE SPOTS

Volvo V60 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System

Electrical

DATA MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,925 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . 60/40 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 990 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,300

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Std./3

RELIABILITY HISTORY

Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

&5 & 3 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 1 &2

Worse than average 2 ConsumerReports.org/cars

Volvo XC60

Volvo XC90

hile a good choice overall, the XC60 isn’t as engaging to drive or as sporty as the Audi Q5 or BMW X3. The ride is stiff, but handling is responsive and secure. The 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder performs well, but fuel economy is mediocre at 17 mpg overall. The new turbocharged four-cylinder engines are coupled to an eightspeed automatic for better fuel economy. Wind and road noise are well suppressed. The interior is well-constructed with high-quality materials, but some controls are fussy to use. The seats are nicely shaped and comfortable up front, although rear leg room is a bit tight. City Safe automatic braking is standard, and crash-test performance is excellent, but opting for other cutting-edge safety gear gets pricey.

OVERALL SCORE 67 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &C OWNER SATISFACTION &C

OVERALL SCORE 71 PREDICTED RELIABILITY &V* OWNER SATISFACTION &X*

ROAD TEST SCORE

71 Std./3

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $36,600-$51,300 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: T5 Drive-E, T6 Drive-E, T5, T6, T6 R-Design Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (240 hp); 2.5-liter 5 turbo (250 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (300 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (302 hp); 3.0-liter 6 turbo (325 hp) Transmissions: 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,275 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .58/42 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 950 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . 32.5 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .3,500

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Regular CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ConsumerReports.org/cars

he XC90 is a highly capable and competitive three-row SUV. Base models use a 250-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo, offered with front- or all-wheel drive. We tested the T6 with its 316-hp, turbocharged and supercharged version. It delivers decent punch and returned 20 mpg overall. but has a raspy sound. A plug-in hybrid with an electric range of about 14 miles is available. All versions use an eight-speed automatic. Handling is commendable, but the ride is stiff, though the optional air suspension makes it more comfortable. The interior is quiet, plush, and modern, with supercomfortable seats. But audio, phone, and navigation functions are controlled through an unintuitive touch-screen infotainment system. Many electronic safety features are available.

Brakes Exhaust Paint/Trim Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

Volvo XC60 13

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 4 & 5 & 2 & 1

&5 & 4 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 3 & 4 & 3 & 2 & 4

&5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 & 5 &5 & 5 & 4 &4

Average 3

CRASH PREVENTION

Base Price: $43,950-$68,100 Body Styles: 4-door SUV Trim Lines: T5 Momentum, T5 R-Design, T5 Inscription, T6 Momentum, T6 R-Design, T6 Inscription, T8 Plug-in Hybrid Drive Wheels: Front or AWD Seating: 2 front, 3 rear, 2 third Engines: 2.0-liter 4 turbo (250 hp); 2.0-liter 4 turbo (316 hp); 2.0-liter 4 hybrid (400 hp) Transmissions: 8-speed automatic

Std./5

RELIABILITY HISTORY TROUBLE SPOTS 13

Engine Major Engine Minor Engine Cooling Transmission Major Transmission Minor Drive System Fuel System

Electrical

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate System

Exterior Dimensions Length (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Width (in.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Height (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Wheelbase (in.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Weight (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,595 % weight front/rear . . . . . . . . . . .53/47 Cargo Measurement Max. Load (lb.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,210 Cargo Volume, cu.ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Towing Capacity (lb.) . . . . . . . . .5,000

Suspension

Fuel

USED CAR VERDICTS NEW CAR PREDICTION

Premium CR overall mpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Brakes

DATA NEW

Exhaust Paint/Trim

MODEL

Noises/Leaks Body Hardware Power Equipment In-Car Electronics

New

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 179

R AT I N G S & R E F E R E N C E

Road-Test Highlights Consumer Reports conducts more than 50 objective and subjective tests and evaluations on every vehicle we rate. These charts list our test results, which allow you to easily compare models. These are the criteria that appear in the charts: > Make & model specifies the model and trim version of the vehicle Consumer Reports tested. We often test multiple versions of the same model, and each can yield different results depending on trim and equipment level, body style, and engine type. > Trans indicates the transmission type and number of speeds. (Auto is automatic, CVT is continuously variable transmission, man is manual, seq is sequential, and 1-spd. dir. is 1-speed direct drive.) > HP is the horsepower of the engine tested. 180 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

> Engine notes tested displacement, number of cylinders, and configuration. > CR’s fuel economy includes the tested overall mpg based on a realistic mix of highway and city driving. The mpg for city and highway driving are listed separately. > Acceleration is based on several tests. The 0-to-30 and 0-to-60 mph tests are conducted from a standstill with the engine idling. The 1/4-mile test is done from a standing start, and the figures indicate the number of seconds needed to reach the quarter-mile mark and at what speed. > Braking is the distance in feet a vehicle took to stop from 60 mph on dry and wet pavement without any of the wheels locking up. > Handling includes emergency-handling

and turning circle tests. AM speed is the speed at which the vehicle was able to successfully negotiate our avoidance maneuver test course. The faster the speed, the better. Turning circle is the bumper clearance needed, in feet, for a U-turn to be completed. Our road tests of some Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen diesel models took place prior to the EPA notifying them of Clean Air Act violations. As a result, we have dropped our test results. We will retest the vehicles when a recall has been made available. For more information and to continue your research, visit our comprehensive website at ConsumerReports.org. Subscribers to our website have access to all of our test results, detailed reliability and owner satisfaction Ratings, and our expert reviews. ConsumerReports.org/cars

Audi A6 Premium Plus

auto 8

310

Audi A8 L

auto 8

372

Audi Q3 Premium Plus

auto 6

200

Audi Q5 Premium Plus

auto 8

211

Audi Q7 Premium Plus

auto 8

333

Audi TT 2.0T

seq 6

220

BMW M235i

man 6

320

BMW 328d xDrive

auto 8

180

BMW 328i

auto 8

240

BMW 535i

auto 8

300

BMW 750i XDrive

auto 8

445

BMW i3 Giga

1-spd. dir.

170

BMW X1 xDrive28i

auto 8

228

BMW X3 xDrive28i

auto 8

240

BMW X5 xDrive35i

auto 8

300

BMW Z4 sDrive28i

man 6

240

Buick Enclave CXL Buick Encore Leather

auto 6 auto 6

288 138

Buick Regal Premium I

auto 6

259

Buick Verano Leather

auto 6

180

Cadillac ATS Luxury

auto 6

272

Cadillac CTS Luxury (AWD) Cadillac Escalade Premium Cadillac XTS Premium Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Chevrolet Colorado LT Chevrolet Corvette 3LT Chevrolet Cruze LT Chevrolet Equinox 1LT Chevrolet Equinox LTZ Chevrolet Impala 2LTZ Chevrolet Malibu LT Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Chevrolet Sonic hatchback LTZ Chevrolet Sonic sedan LT Chevrolet Spark 1LT Chevrolet SS Chevrolet Suburban LTZ Chevrolet Tahoe LT

auto 6 auto 8 auto 6 man 6 auto 6 man 7 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 man 6 auto 6 CVT auto 6 auto 6 auto 6

321 420 304 455 305 460 153 182 292 305 163 355 138 138 98 415 355 355

from 60 mph wet (ft.)

AM Speed (mph)

Turning Circle (ft.)

211

HANDLING

from 60 mph dry (ft.)

auto 6

2.4-liter 4 28 3.5-liter V6 21 3.5-liter V6 22 3.5-liter V6 23 2.4-liter 4 27 3.5-liter V6 25 1.8-liter 4 turbo 27 2.0-liter 4 22 turbo 3.0-liter V6 22 supercharged 4.2-liter V8 21 2.0-liter 4 22 turbo 2.0-liter 4 21 turbo 3.0-liter V6 20 supercharged 2.0-liter 4 26 turbo 3.0-liter 6 25 turbo 2.0-liter 4 35 turbodiesel 2.0-liter 4 28 turbo 3.0-liter 6 23 turbo 4.4-liter V8 21 turbo 0.7-liter 2 + 139** electric 2.0-liter 4 26 turbo 2.0-liter 4 23 turbo 3.0-liter 6 21 turbo 2.0-liter 4 28 turbo 3.6-liter V6 15 1.4-liter 4 turbo 23 2.0-liter 4 24 turbo 2.4-liter 4 24 2.0-liter 4 23 turbo 3.6-liter V6 21 6.2-liter V8 16 3.6-liter V6 22 6.2-liter V8 20 3.6-liter V6 18 6.2-liter V8 20 1.4-liter 4 turbo 30 2.4-liter 4 21 3.6-liter V6 18 3.6-liter V6 22 1.5-liter 4 turbo 29 5.3-liter V8 16 1.4-liter 4 turbo 30 1.8-liter 4 28 1.4-liter 4 33 6.2-liter V8 17 5.3-liter V8 16 5.3-liter V8 16

BRAKING 1/4 mi (sec. @ mph)

Acura ILX Premium Acura MDX Tech Acura RDX Acura RLX Tech Acura TLX 2.4L Acura TLX SH-AWD Audi A3 Premium Audi A5 convertible Premium Plus

ACCELERATION 0 - 60 mph (sec.)

201 290 273 310 206 290 170

CR’S FUEL ECONOMY (MPG) 0 - 30 mph (sec.)

seq 8 auto 9 auto 6 auto 6 seq 8 auto 9 seq 6

ENGINE

Highway

City

TRANS.

Overall

MAKE & MODEL

18 14 14 15 18 16 18

42 31 31 36 41 36 40

3.1 2.8 2.9 2.7 3.0 2.5 3.2

7.5 6.8 6.6 6.5 7.4 6.5 8.3

15.9 @ 92 15.3 @ 94 15.2 @ 95 15.0 @ 97 15.7 @ 93 14.9 @ 99 16.4 @ 88

132 135 132 128 129 129 124

139 140 144 138 138 140 127

54.5 52.0 51.0 51.5 54.5 55.0 53.0

38 40 40 40 41 40 37

2.9

8.0

16.2 @ 89

134

145

53.0

2.1

5.7

14.2 @ 101

132

138

52.5

2.2

5.5

14.0 @ 105

126

137

52.0

3.2

8.4

16.6 @ 87

132

141

51.5

3.0

7.9

16.2 @ 88

130

138

52.0

2.5

6.7

15.1 @ 96

127

138

50.0

2.5

6.3

14.8 @ 98

113

122

58.0

2.1

5.2

13.8 @ 105

115

128

58.5

3.5

8.5

16.8 @ 88

132

139

54.0

2.6

6.3

14.9 @ 97

132

141

54.5

2.5

6.1

14.5 @ 101

137

148

51.5

2.4

5.3

13.6 @ 111

131

147

52.5

135**

141**

3.3

7.5

16.3 @ 85

131

138

55.0

3.5

7.9

16.3 @ 92

134

143

53.0

2.9

7.3

15.8 @ 91

130

138

53.0

3.1

7.4

15.7 @ 94

137

142

52.0

2.4

6.1

14.7 @ 99

122

130

54.5

10 16

24 32

3.0 3.8

7.9 11.0

16.2 @ 87 18.3 @ 77

142 127

153 134

50.0 55.0

43 38

2.9

7.4

15.9 @ 92

125

134

53.5

3.0

8.5

16.5 @ 87

129

141

54.5

2.5

6.5

14.9 @ 97

125

133

57.5

14 10 14 13 13 14 19 14 12 14 19 11 21 19 23 12 10 10

29 23 34 28 26 28 47 30 25 34 41 23 39 38 44 23 23 23

2.7 2.2 3.0 2.0 3.0 2.0 3.3 3.8 2.5 2.9 3.1 2.8 3.0 3.2 4.5 2.2 2.9 2.8

6.8 6.1 7.2 4.4 7.5 4.3 8.5 10.7 7.1 6.9 8.4 7.5 8.9 9.3 12.0 5.1 7.9 7.7

15.2 @ 97 14.5 @ 98 15.7 @ 94 12.7 @ 116 15.8 @ 91 12.6 @ 116 16.6 @ 88 18.0 @ 80 15.4 @ 93 15.5 @ 95 16.6 @ 86 15.9 @ 90 16.9 @ 84 17.1 @ 83 19.0 @ 76 13.5 @ 110 16.2 @ 89 15.9 @ 90

127 142 128 112 132 107 125 138 138 130 130 138 130 128 129 118 139 136

145 157 134 119 150 121 141 143 148 136 149 164 140 139 137 124 148 140

54.5 45.0 53.0 56.0 48.5 57.5 56.0 50.0 50.5 54.0 53.0 45.5 55.0 54.0 57.5 56.0 47.0 45.0

38 41 40 40 43 38 36 42 42 40 38 49 38 36 35 39 45 41

**MPG equivalent

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 181

R OA D T E S T S H I G H L I G H T S

CVT

188

auto 6

245

Ford Edge SEL Ford Escape SE

auto 6

173

Ford Escape Titanium

auto 6

231

Ford Expedition Limited EL

auto 6

365

Ford Explorer XLT

auto 6

290

Ford F-150 XLT

auto 6

325

Ford F-150 XLT

auto 6

365

Ford Fiesta hatchback SES Ford Fiesta hatchback SE Ford Fiesta sedan SE Ford Fiesta ST Ford Flex SEL

120 123 120 197 287

Ford Focus sedan SE (1.0T) Ford Focus sedan SE (2.0L)

man 5 man 5 seq 6 man 6 auto 6 1-spd. dir. auto 6 seq 6

Ford Focus ST

man 6

252

Ford Fusion SE

Ford Focus Electric

Turning Circle (ft.)

Ford C-MAX Hybrid SE

AM Speed (mph)

188

from 60 mph wet (ft.)

CVT

Chrysler 200 C Chrysler 200 Limited Chrysler 300 C Chrysler 300 Limited Dodge Challenger R/T Plus Dodge Charger R/T Dodge Charger SXT Plus Dodge Dart SXT Dodge Durango Limited Dodge Grand Caravan R/T Dodge Journey Lux Fiat 500 Abarth Fiat 500 Sport Fiat 500c Pop Fiat 500L Easy Fiat 500X Easy

149

HANDLING

from 60 mph dry (ft.)

Ford C-MAX Energi

Chevrolet Volt LT

3.6-liter V6 16 1.4-liter 4 turbo 25 1.5-liter 4 + 105** electric 3.6-liter V6 25 2.4-liter 4 30 5.7-liter V8 20 3.6-liter V6 22 5.7-liter V8 20 5.7-liter V8 20 3.6-liter V6 22 2.4-liter 4 27 3.6-liter V6 18 3.6-liter V6 17 3.6-liter V6 16 1.4-liter 4 turbo 28 1.4-liter 4 33 1.4-liter 4 34 1.4-liter 4 turbo 27 2.4-liter 4 23 2.0-liter 4 + 47* electric 2.0-liter 4 37 hybrid 2.0-liter 4 21 turbo 1.6-liter 4 turbo 22 2.0-liter 4 22 turbo 3.5-liter V6 14 turbo 3.5-liter V6 18 2.7-liter V6 17 turbo 3.5-liter V6 16 turbo 1.6-liter 4 32 1.0-liter 3 turbo 35 1.6-liter 4 33 1.6-liter 4 turbo 29 3.5-liter V6 18

BRAKING 1/4 mi (sec. @ mph)

295 184 363 292 375 370 292 184 290 283 283 160 101 101 160 180

Chevrolet Traverse LT Chevrolet Trax LT

ACCELERATION 0 - 60 mph (sec.)

288 138

CR’S FUEL ECONOMY (MPG) 0 - 30 mph (sec.)

auto 6 auto 6 1-spd. dir. auto 9 auto 9 auto 8 auto 8 man 6 auto 8 auto 8 auto 6 auto 8 auto 6 auto 6 man 5 man 5 man 5 seq 6 auto 9

ENGINE

Highway

City

TRANS.

Overall

MAKE & MODEL

11 18

23 34

3.0 4.0

7.9 10.8

16.2 @ 87 18.2 @ 78

141 130

161 141

50.0 54.0

42 38

99**

109**

2.7

8.0

16.3 @ 84

133

140

52.0

15 19 13 15 14 13 15 18 12 11 11 21 24 25 18 16

42 44 31 32 27 31 32 37 25 27 25 34 42 42 37 31

3.1 3.9 2.5 3.2 2.3 2.5 3.2 3.4 3.1 3.3 3.2 2.6 3.5 3.4 3.9 3.8

6.9 9.8 6.1 7.4 5.5 6.1 7.4 9.3 8.3 8.1 8.1 8.0 11.3 11.0 9.5 9.8

15.4 @ 97 17.6 @ 83 14.5 @ 102 15.8 @ 95 13.9 @ 106 14.5 @ 102 15.8 @ 95 17.2 @ 84 16.4 @ 87 16.5 @ 86 16.4 @ 86 16.1 @ 86 18.3 @ 76 18.1 @ 76 17.4 @ 84 17.6 @ 81

138 130 134 137 119 128 134 127 134 141 139 125 134 129 132 130

148 135 143 142 128 141 145 134 150 153 142 126 142 137 138 146

51.5 53.5 49.5 50.0 51.5 50.5 52.0 54.5 48.0 49.0 50.0 55.5 55.0 53.0 51.5 52.5

41 41 39 40 40 39 40 38 41 42 41 39 34 34 37 37

45*

49*

3.3

8.1

16.4 @ 89

136

146

50.5

3.4

8.4

16.6 @ 89

138

150

53.0

3.1

8.8

16.8 @ 84

132

139

51.5

3.4

9.9

17.5 @ 80

133

139

52.5

2.9

8.2

16.3 @ 87

134

139

52.5

2.7

7.2

15.7 @ 91

136

155

45.0

3.1

7.9

16.2 @ 89

135

145

49.5

2.9

7.0

15.5 @ 94

137

155

46.0

2.9

7.2

15.7 @ 93

139

156

46.5

23 25 22 21 12

42 46 45 36 25

3.6 3.1 4.3 2.9 3.2

10.7 9.0 10.9 7.3 8.5

17.9 @ 80 17.2 @ 83 18.4 @ 79 15.6 @ 93 16.5 @ 88

134 125 142 118 141

147 133 159 124 145

55.0 56.0 52.5 57.0 48.0

36 35 36 37 43

143

Electric

111**

104**

116**

4.3

10.2

18.0 @ 82

140

154

52.5

123 160

1.0-liter 3 turbo 2.0-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 turbo 1.5-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 hybrid 2.0-liter 4 turbo 5.0-liter V8 2.3-liter 4 turbo 3.5-liter V6 2.5-liter 4 3.6-liter V6 5.3-liter V8 2.4-liter 4 3.6-liter V6 5.3-liter V8 5.3-liter V8 3.5-liter V6

29 29

18 19

44 43

4.1 3.7

11.0 9.8

18.3 @ 79 17.4 @ 85

128 128

140 140

51.5 51.5

37 37

2.8

6.6

15.1 @ 95

122

135

53.0

auto 6

181

Ford Fusion SE Hybrid

CVT

188

Ford Fusion Titanium

auto 6

231

Ford Mustang GT Premium

man 6

435

Ford Mustang Premium

auto 6

310

Ford Taurus Limited Ford Transit Connect XLT GMC Canyon LT GMC Sierra 1500 LT GMC Terrain 1LT GMC Terrain LTZ GMC Yukon LT GMC Yukon XL SLT Honda Accord EX-L

auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6

288 169 305 355 182 292 355 355 278

3.2

9.2

17.0 @ 84

125

137

52.5

3.4

8.3

16.5 @ 90

140

153

52.0

3.0

7.4

15.8 @ 92

130

141

53.5

2.1

4.9

13.4 @ 111

121

133

54.5

2.5

6.4

14.9 @ 97

125

135

53.0

21 21 18 16 21 18 16 16 26

14 15 13 11 14 12 10 10 16

31 27 26 23 30 25 23 23 39

2.9 3.9 3.0 2.8 3.8 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.7

7.2 10.9 7.5 7.5 10.7 7.1 7.7 7.9 6.3

15.6 @ 95 18.2 @ 78 15.8 @ 91 15.9 @ 90 18.0 @ 80 15.4 @ 93 15.9 @ 90 16.2 @ 89 14.7 @ 99

135 132 132 138 138 138 136 139 139

142 141 150 164 143 148 140 148 150

50.0 53.0 48.5 45.5 50.0 50.5 45.0 45.0 52.5

42 41 43 49 42 42 41 45 40

*Composite of electric and gas. **MPG equivalent

182 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

3.2

33 29 21 20 32 31 33

24 20 13 13 24 20 21

42 39 31 28 40 45 49

4.0 4.3 3.3 3.2 3.0 3.7 3.8

Turning Circle (ft.)

3.3 3.0 3.7 3.9

AM Speed (mph)

40 45 45 31

from 60 mph wet (ft.)

21 21 21 18

HANDLING

from 60 mph dry (ft.)

30 31 32 24

BRAKING 1/4 mi (sec. @ mph)

185 174 158 185

ACCELERATION 0 - 60 mph (sec.)

CVT CVT CVT CVT

CR’S FUEL ECONOMY (MPG) 0 - 30 mph (sec.)

ENGINE

Highway

City

Honda Accord LX Honda Civic EX-T Honda Civic LX Honda CR-V EX

TRANS.

Overall

MAKE & MODEL

7.7 7.1 8.7 9.0

16.0 @ 92 15.6 @ 94 16.8 @ 88 17.1 @ 86

136 129 129 134

148 141 140 143

53.0 54.5 56.0 51.5

41 37 37 38

9.3

17.2 @ 82

139

146

52.0

10.0 10.5 8.4 7.5 8.5 10.3 9.9

17.7 @ 84 18.1 @ 81 16.6 @ 88 15.9 @ 92 16.8 @ 84 17.8 @ 82 17.6 @ 84

132 132 136 136 136 134 133

135 139 143 153 147 146 142

55.0 55.0 47.5 49.5 55.0 51.5 54.0

36 39 40 41 37 37 36

Honda CR-Z EX

man 6

122

Honda Fit EX Honda HR-V LX Honda Odyssey EX-L Honda Pilot EX-L Hyundai Accent hatchback SE Hyundai Accent sedan GLS Hyundai Elantra SE (Hyundai) Genesis G80 3.8 (AWD) Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Base Hyundai Sonata SE

CVT CVT auto 6 auto 6 man 6 auto 6 auto 6

130 141 248 280 138 138 147

2.4-liter 4 1.5-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 2.4-liter 4 1.5-liter 4 hybrid 1.5-liter 4 1.8-liter 4 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 1.6-liter 4 1.6-liter 4 2.0-liter 4

auto 8

311

3.8-liter V6

2.9

7.2

15.5 @ 95

129

137

53.0

auto 6 auto 6 auto 6

290 190 185

20 23 28

14 17 18

29 30 40

3.0 3.2 3.7

7.6 9.7 9.2

16.1 @ 90 17.3 @ 82 17.2 @ 86

133 132 139

140 142 155

51.0 50.5 50.5

39 38 37

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE

auto 6

193

Hyundai Tucson SE Hyundai Tucson Sport Hyundai Veloster Infiniti Q50 Premium (AWD)

auto 6 seq 7 man 6 auto 7

164 175 138 328

Infiniti Q70 Hybrid

auto 7

360

Infiniti Q70 Infiniti QX60 Infiniti QX70 Infiniti QX80 Jaguar XJL Jeep Cherokee Latitude Jeep Cherokee Limited Jeep Compass Latitude Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Ecodiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Jeep Patriot Latitude Jeep Renegade Latitude Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara Kia Forte LX Kia Optima EX Kia Rio hatchback EX Kia Rio sedan EX Kia Sedona EX Kia Sorento EX Kia Soul Plus Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE

auto 7 CVT auto 7 auto 7 auto 6 auto 9 auto 9 CVT

330 265 303 400 385 184 271 172

auto 8

240

auto 8 CVT auto 9

295 172 180

3.3-liter V6 2.4-liter 4 2.4-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 hybrid 2.0-liter 4 1.6-liter 4 turbo 1.6-liter 4 3.7-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 hybrid 3.7-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 5.6-liter V8 5.0-liter V8 2.4-liter 4 3.2-liter V6 2.4-liter 4 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel 3.6-liter V6 2.4-liter 4 2.4-liter 4

3.1

8.2

16.4 @ 89

140

151

51.0

24 26 31 21

17 18 24 14

32 35 37 30

4.0 3.3 3.2 2.3

11.0 8.4 9.2 5.6

18.3 @ 80 16.6 @ 86 17.1 @ 83 14.1 @ 103

129 128 131 126

142 140 142 135

54.0 53.0 54.0 54.0

36 36 36 42

2.4

5.6

14.2 @ 101

131

144

52.0

21 19 18 15 19 22 21 22

14 13 13 11 13 15 14 15

29 26 24 21 27 31 29 29

2.3 3.5 2.7 2.7 2.3 3.9 3.1 4.1

5.8 8.3 6.8 6.9 5.5 10.9 7.7 10.3

14.2 @ 101 16.5 @ 89 15.2 @ 95 15.4 @ 94 14.0 @ 106 18.2 @ 79 16.1 @ 90 17.9 @ 82

128 137 133 139 138 138 133 145

143 143 147 155 148 153 144 170

54.5 47.0 51.0 48.0 52.5 51.5 51.5 48.0

40 41 40 44 42 40 40 38

3.1

8.6

16.7 @ 85

132

145

50.5

18 21 24

12 15 16

24 28 32

3.0 4.0 3.8

8.0 10.3 9.9

16.2 @ 88 17.9 @ 80 17.6 @ 81

134 141 130

146 158 133

50.0 51.5 51.5

39 37 37

auto 5

285

3.6-liter V6

3.5

8.9

16.8 @ 85

151

181

45.0

auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6

148 185 138 138 276 290 164

28 28 29 30 20 21 26

19 18 21 22 13 14 19

40 40 37 39 28 30 33

3.6 3.3 3.6 3.5 3.2 3.0 3.3

10.1 8.0 9.9 9.5 8.0 7.4 8.8

17.6 @ 83 16.3 @ 90 17.5 @ 81 17.3 @ 83 16.3 @ 90 15.9 @ 91 16.9 @ 85

128 130 136 138 133 131 127

137 141 146 148 144 143 135

52.5 51.5 55.0 55.0 48.0 49.5 53.5

38 37 37 37 38 38 36

auto 9

240

3.6

8.6

16.9 @ 87

136

145

50.5

Land Rover Range Rover HSE

auto 8

340

2.7

6.7

15.1 @ 96

137

144

48.5

Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE

auto 8

340

2.6

6.5

15.1 @ 95

137

139

49.5

Lexus CT 200h Premium

CVT

134

3.8

11.0

18.3 @ 78

133

146

54.5

Lexus ES 300h

CVT

200

3.4

8.2

16.4 @ 90

140

144

51.0

auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 8

268 306 301 255 386

1.8-liter 4 2.4-liter 4 1.6-liter 4 1.6-liter 4 3.3-liter V6 3.3-liter V6 2.0-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 turbo 3.0-liter V6 supercharged 3.0-liter V6 supercharged 1.8-liter 4 hybrid 2.5-liter 4 hybrid 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 4.6-liter V8 3.5-liter V6 4.6-liter V8

25 21 17 20 21

17 13 12 14 13

35 32 24 28 32

2.8 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.6

6.7 6.2 7.5 6.5 6.2

15.0 @ 98 14.7 @ 99 16.0 @ 89 15.0 @ 96 14.6 @ 101

139 137 136 139 140

147 147 143 151 153

51.5 53.5 48.0 53.0 48.5

40 37 41 37 40

Lexus ES 350 Lexus GS 350 Lexus GX 460 Lexus IS 300 (AWD) Lexus LS 460L

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 183

R OA D T E S T S H I G H L I G H T S

Lincoln MKX 2.7L

auto 6

335

Lincoln MKZ 2.0 EcoBoost

auto 6

231

CVT

188

Lincoln Navigator Base

auto 6

380

Maserati Ghibli S Q4

auto 8

404

Mazda CX-3 Touring Mazda CX-5 Touring Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Mazda3 i Grand Touring Mazda3 i Touring Mazda6 Sport

auto 6 auto 6 man 6 man 6 auto 6 auto 6

146 184 155 155 155 184

Mercedes-Benz C300 (AWD)

auto 7

241

Mercedes-Benz CLA250

seq 7

208

Mercedes-Benz GLA250

seq 7

208

Mercedes-Benz GLC300

auto 9

241

Mercedes-Benz GLS350d

auto 7

240

Mercedes-Benz GLE350

auto 7

302

Mercedes-Benz S550 (AWD)

auto 7

449

Mini Cooper Base

auto 6

134

Mini Cooper S

man 6

189

Mini Clubman Base Mini Cooper Countryman S

auto 6 auto 6 1-spd. dir. CVT CVT CVT man 6 CVT CVT 1-spd. dir. CVT CVT CVT CVT CVT CVT CVT CVT man 7 auto 8

134 184

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Mitsubishi i-MiEV SE Mitsubishi Lancer ES Mitsubishi Mirage ES Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Nissan 370Z Touring Nissan Altima 2.5 SV Nissan Altima 3.5 SL Nissan Leaf SL Nissan Maxima Platinum Nissan Murano SL Nissan Pathfinder SL Nissan Quest SL Nissan Rogue SV Nissan Sentra SV Nissan Versa Note SV Nissan Versa SV Porsche 911 Carrera S Porsche Cayenne Base

7.5

15.9 @ 92

132

3.3

8.9

16.9 @ 85

136

2.9

7.5

15.8 @ 92

139

3.2

7.5

15.8 @ 95

138

2.8

7.8

16.1 @ 88

125

2.6

7.2

15.5 @ 92

128

3.0

7.4

15.8 @ 92

3.8

9.2

2.6

28 25 34 32 33 32

20 19 25 24 23 22

Turning Circle (ft.)

285

3.0

AM Speed (mph)

308

auto 6

HANDLING

from 60 mph wet (ft.)

CVT

Lincoln MKC Reserve

from 60 mph dry (ft.)

194 295

BRAKING 1/4 mi (sec. @ mph)

CVT auto 8

2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.5-liter 4 hybrid 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 hybrid 2.3-liter 4 turbo 2.7-liter V6 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 hybrid 3.5-liter V6 turbo 3.0-liter V6 turbo 2.0-liter 4 2.5-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 2.5-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel 3.5-liter V6 4.7-liter V8 turbo 1.5-liter 3 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 1.5-liter 3 turbo 1.6-liter 4 turbo

ACCELERATION 0 - 60 mph (sec.)

235

CR’S FUEL ECONOMY (MPG) 0 - 30 mph (sec.)

Lexus RX 450h

auto 6

ENGINE

Highway

Lexus NX 300h Lexus RX 350

City

Lexus NX 200t

TRANS.

Overall

MAKE & MODEL

137

49.5

142

49.5

152

49.0

147

50.0

133

54.0

142

53.5

124

133

53.0

17.1 @ 87

129

139

53.0

7.0

15.6 @ 90

136

151

48.5

2.5

5.4

14.0 @ 107

115

125

53.5

36 32 42 41 45 44

3.5 2.8 2.2 3.0 3.2 2.8

9.6 8.0 6.7 8.2 8.3 7.5

17.4 @ 82 16.2 @ 86 15.1 @ 92 16.6 @ 86 16.6 @ 88 15.9 @ 90

135 133 124 133 133 132

148 142 133 143 140 141

53.5 52.5 57.5 54.0 54.5 53.0

36 38 32 38 38 40

2.7

6.8

15.2 @ 96

136

144

55.5

2.7

6.6

15.2 @ 95

124

137

54.0

2.7

6.9

15.4 @ 92

128

142

54.5

2.7

6.8

15.4 @ 93

132

143

50.0

3.2

8.2

16.5 @ 86

136

146

44.5

2.5

6.8

15.2 @ 93

138

156

48.0

2.3

5.1

13.5 @ 109

128

138

51.0

3.1

8.3

16.5 @ 87

133

142

54.5

2.7

7.2

15.5 @ 94

130

139

56.0

28 26

18 19

40 33

3.9 3.2

10.5 8.3

17.9 @ 81 16.5 @ 87

129 135

140 142

56.5 54.5

38 38

Electric

111**

104**

116**

4.9

14.7

20.2 @ 69

132

146

52.0

152 74 166 332 182 270

2.0-liter 4 1.2-liter 3 2.4-liter 4 3.7-liter V6 2.5-liter 4 3.5-liter V6

25 37 24 23 29 24

17 28 17 17 19 16

34 47 30 28 42 35

3.9 4.4 3.8 2.1 3.5 2.9

9.8 12.1 10.0 5.3 8.4 6.3

17.6 @ 82 19.0 @ 75 17.7 @ 81 13.9 @ 104 16.6 @ 89 14.7 @ 101

144 138 132 120 135 133

159 145 149 127 143 141

49.5 52.5 50.5 58.0 52.0 52.0

37 32 36 37 39 41

107

Electric

106**

86**

118**

3.4

10.3

17.8 @ 77

136

149

52.5

300 260 260 260 170 130 109 109 400 300

3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 2.5-liter 4 1.8-liter 4 1.6-liter 4 1.6-liter 4 3.8-liter 6 3.6-liter V6 3.0-liter V6 turbo 5.7-liter V8 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel

25 21 18 19 24 29 31 32 23 19

17 15 13 13 17 21 22 23 16 14

36 29 25 24 30 38 40 40 32 26

2.8 3.4 3.2 3.7 3.7 3.6 4.0 4.0 1.6 2.8

6.5 7.7 7.7 8.4 9.5 9.7 10.9 10.6 4.1 7.8

14.9 @ 99 16.0 @ 92 16.0 @ 91 16.5 @ 90 17.3 @ 83 17.5 @ 81 18.2 @ 79 18.1 @ 80 12.4 @ 117 15.9 @ 90

132 131 137 143 134 129 135 140 108 134

141 137 145 157 142 138 149 152 119 147

53.0 50.5 47.0 51.5 54.0 55.5 54.5 54.5 59.5 50.0

39 40 40 39 38 37 37 38 37 39

2.7

6.4

14.7 @ 101

130

135

51.0

2.8

7.1

15.5 @ 94

141

154

47.0

3.4

9.5

17.4 @ 82

143

160

47.0

Porsche Macan S

seq 7

340

Ram 1500 Big Horn

auto 8

395

Ram 1500 Big Horn Ecodiesel

auto 8

240

**MPG equivalent

184 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CR’S FUEL ECONOMY (MPG) 0 - 30 mph (sec.)

0 - 60 mph (sec.)

1/4 mi (sec. @ mph)

from 60 mph dry (ft.)

from 60 mph wet (ft.)

AM Speed (mph)

Turning Circle (ft.)

HANDLING

ENGINE

Highway

BRAKING

City

ACCELERATION

TRANS.

Overall

MAKE & MODEL

seq 6 man 6

89 200

36 30

25 23

48 37

4.4 2.6

11.2 7.2

18.6 @ 78 15.6 @ 92

132 126

140 126

52.5 56.0

24 38

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

CVT

160

4.1

10.1

17.9 @ 82

131

135

53.0

Subaru Crosstrek Premium Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

CVT CVT CVT CVT CVT

148 170 175 175 256

26 26 26 24 22

19 18 17 16 16

34 35 39 34 29

3.8 3.5 4.1 4.2 3.2

9.7 8.7 10.2 10.5 7.4

17.5 @ 82 16.8 @ 86 17.8 @ 82 18.1 @ 81 15.7 @ 93

130 127 128 133 134

148 140 135 142 147

53.0 52.0 55.5 53.5 55.0

37 37 39 39 38

Subaru WRX Premium

man 6

268

.9-liter 3 turbo 2.0-liter 4 2.0-liter 4 hybrid 2.0-liter 4 2.5-liter 4 2.5-liter 4 2.5-liter 4 3.6-liter 6 2.0-liter 4 turbo

1.9

6.0

14.5 @ 97

120

128

59.0

Tesla Model S P85D

1-spd. dir. auto 5 man 6 auto 6

691

Electric

87**

64**

110**

1.4

3.5

12.1 @ 112

118

129

55.5

270 200 268

18 30 24

12 23 16

24 37 35

3.0 2.6 2.8

7.7 7.2 6.6

16.1 @ 89 15.5 @ 94 15.0 @ 98

131 126 135

145 127 148

48.0 56.5 52.0

45 38 42

Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE

CVT

200

Toyota Camry LE Toyota Camry XLE Toyota Corolla (Scion) iM Toyota Corolla LE Plus Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Toyota Highlander XLE Toyota Land Cruiser

auto 6 auto 6 CVT CVT

178 268 137 132

Smart ForTwo Passion Subaru BRZ Premium

Toyota 4Runner SR5 Toyota 86 (Scion FR-S) Toyota Avalon Limited

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SE

seq 7

170

Volkswagen Jetta SE Volkswagen Jetta Sport Volkswagen Passat SE Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium

auto 6 auto 6 auto 6

150 170 170

4.0-liter V6 2.0-liter 4 3.5-liter V6 2.5-liter 4 hybrid 2.5-liter 4 3.5-liter V6 1.8-liter 4 1.8-liter 4 3.5-liter V6 hybrid 3.5-liter V6 5.7-liter V8 1.8-liter 4 hybrid 1.5-liter 4 hybrid 1.8-liter 4 hybrid 2.5-liter 4 hybrid 2.5-liter 4 5.7-liter V8 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 3.5-liter V6 5.7-liter V8 1.5-liter 4 1.5-liter 4 1.8-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 1.8-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 1.4-liter 4 hybrid 1.4-liter 4 turbo 1.8-liter 4 turbo 1.8-liter 4 turbo

seq 6

280 200

CVT

280

auto 6 auto 6

270 381

Toyota Prius Three

CVT

121

Toyota Prius C Two

CVT

Toyota Prius V Three

CVT

134

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE

CVT

194

Toyota RAV4 XLE Toyota Sequoia Limited Toyota Sienna XLE Toyota Sienna XLE (AWD) Toyota Tacoma SR5 Toyota Tundra SR5 Toyota Yaris (Scion) iA Toyota Yaris LE Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T

auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 6 auto 4 auto 6

176 381 266 266 278 381 106 106 170

Volkswagen CC Sport

seq 6

200

Volkswagen Golf SE

auto 6

170

Volkswagen GTI Autobahn

man 6

210

Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn

man 6

200

Volkswagen Tiguan SEL

auto 6

Volvo S60 T5 Drive-E

auto 8

240

Volvo V60 Cross Country

auto 6

250

Volvo XC60 T6

auto 6

281

Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum

auto 8

316

3.2

7.6

15.9 @ 92

133

150

51.0

28 26 31 32

19 17 22 23

38 37 42 43

3.3 2.7 4.0 4.0

8.6 6.4 10.0 9.9

16.7 @ 87 14.8 @ 99 17.8 @ 82 17.7 @ 83

131 136 133 138

143 145 150 149

53.5 50.5 52.5 54.5

38 40 37 37

3.3

8.3

16.4 @ 90

138

146

49.0

20 14

14 10

27 20

2.9 2.8

7.5 7.3

15.9 @ 90 15.7 @ 92

134 140

144 158

50.5 46.0

40 43

3.6

10.3

17.8 @ 81

135

149

53.5

3.7

11.3

18.4 @ 76

135

140

51.5

3.7

10.7

18.1 @ 78

138

151

55.0

3.3

8.7

16.7 @ 86

136

145

49.5

24 15 20 19 19 15 35 32 27

17 10 14 13 14 10 24 23 19

32 21 27 25 25 20 48 41 36

3.4 2.7 3.5 3.2 3.5 2.6 3.8 3.9 3.1

9.3 7.1 8.8 8.5 8.2 6.7 10.3 10.8 8.4

17.2 @ 83 15.6 @ 92 16.8 @ 88 16.6 @ 87 16.5 @ 90 15.3 @ 93 17.9 @ 81 18.3 @ 76 16.4 @ 89

135 146 134 139 146 153 139 137 136

147 163 156 155 158 178 157 149 149

51.0 47.0 49.0 48.5 46.0 44.5 55.0 54.0 51.0

38 42 40 40 42 49 34 34 36

3.1

7.5

15.8 @ 93

133

141

52.0

3.2

8.7

16.7 @ 87

130

137

54.0

2.7

6.6

15.2 @ 97

132

144

55.0

3.0

7.2

15.6 @ 95

132

144

54.5

3.3

8.1

16.3 @ 89

138

150

52.5

32 30 28

21 21 19

47 39 39

3.3 3.3 3.1

9.1 8.5 8.6

16.9 @ 86 16.5 @ 90 16.6 @ 88

131 137 129

144 151 139

53.0 52.0 52.5

38 37 38

3.6-liter V6

3.0

6.8

15.1 @ 99

132

140

52.5

2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo 2.5-liter 5 turbo 3.0-liter 6 turbo 2.0-liter 4 turbo

3.2

8.5

16.7 @ 86

140

156

53.5

3.1

7.9

16.2 @ 90

128

135

54.0

3.0

8.1

16.4 @ 87

127

134

49.5

2.9

7.4

15.8 @ 92

132

140

52.5

3.1

7.7

15.9 @ 93

126

137

52.5

*Composite of electric and gas. **MPG equivalent

ConsumerReports.org/cars

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS 185

R AT I N G S & R E F E R E N C E

Safety Update & Crash-Test Ratings

Front Small Overlap

Offset Frontal

Side

Rear

Roof Crush

NHTSA SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking—Highway

IIHS SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking —City

FRONT CRASH PREVENTION

X X C-Z C X X Z X X C V

Opt. Opt. -

Opt. -

Poor Marg. Accept. Poor Marg. Marg. Good Marg.

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Accept. Accept. Accept. Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Rollover 2WD/4WD

The charts on these pages are a comprehensive collection of data to help you compare the safety capabilities of different models. Because crash-test results can only be compared among vehicles of similar weight, we group models by category. Here is a guide to each column: > Accident avoidance is a composite derived from our track tests, including braking and emergency handling, and to a lesser extent driving position, visibility, acceleration, and seat comfort. If we tested multiple versions of the same model and the accident-avoidance scores differed, we give the range of

Overall Front/Side

GUIDE TO THE CHART

Forward Collision Warning

CR TESTS

scores attained. > Front crash prevention indicates the availability of forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems in a model. Std. indicates the feature is standard; Opt. means it is optional; and a - means the feature is not available. NA indicates that, at time of publication, there is no information on availability of the features. > IIHS safety tests include the narrow-offset, offset frontal, side-impact, rear-crash, and roof-strength evaluations. IIHS scores are Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. The roof-strength test subjects a vehicle to a force equal to 4 times its weight prior to 5 inches of roof crush. > National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests measure full-frontal and side-impact performance, and are displayed as a combined overall and an overall front and side rating. The NHTSA rollover rating denotes the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle crash. This score is largely based on a static measure of a vehicle’s center of gravity. A dynamic test is used for light trucks.

Accident Avoidance

MAKE & MODEL

rating, the highest for those tests. So far, of the groups that have been subjected to the test, most have a few vehicles that achieved a score of Good. Overall, newly-introduced vehicles that were designed with the test in mind have done better in the test than older models. Consumer Reports won’t recommend any vehicle that scores Poor in an institute or government test.

Combined Overall

When assessing safety, it’s important to compare vehicles in the same class. Models perform differently in crashes based on their size and what they hit. Even a small car with top crash-test ratings will take the brunt of the impact if hit by a larger, heavier vehicle. As safety technology progresses rapidly, we’ve begun evaluating some active safety features as part of our test program. As part of our new overall score, we give additional consideration to advanced safety systems— offered as standard equipment across all trim levels of a particular model—that can help drivers avoid an accident or lessen the impact of a crash. In 2012 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety added the “small-overlap” frontal-crash test. It replicates a 40-mph crash in which 25 percent of the driver-side front of a car hits a rigid barrier. That’s in contrast to the institute’s regular offset frontal test, which replicates hitting a vehicle. The test results have varied widely, much more so than in the traditional frontal-crash tests, where nearly all cars receive a Good

CARS: SUBCOMPACT Chevrolet Spark Fiat 500 Ford Fiesta Honda CR-Z Honda Fit Hyundai Accent Hyundai Veloster Kia Rio Mini Cooper Mitsubishi i-MiEV Mitsubishi Mirage

186 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

X X X Z X Z X X X -

4/Z 4/Z X/C Z/5 X/4 4/Z 4/Z X/4 X/C 4/-

4/4/Z/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/-

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Better

Rear

Roof Crush

Opt. Std.

Poor Accept. Marg. Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good

X Z X Z Z X C Z X C-Z C Z X

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. -

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. -

Opt. Opt. Opt. -

Good Good Good Accept. Poor Accept.

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Rollover 2WD/4WD

Side

Opt. Opt. -

Overall Front/Side

Offset Frontal

C C C C C C

Combined Overall

Front Small Overlap

NHTSA SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking—Highway

IIHS SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking —City

FRONT CRASH PREVENTION Forward Collision Warning

CR TESTS Accident Avoidance

MAKE & MODEL

Worse

X X

X/4 C/Z

4/4/-

4/Z

4/4/-

Z Z

4/Z 4/Z

4/X/4

Z/5

4/-

Z/5

4/-

Z/5

4/-

Z/5

CARS: SUBCOMPACT continued Nissan Versa Nissan Versa Note Smart ForTwo Toyota Prius C Toyota Yaris Toyota Yaris iA

-/4 -

CARS: COMPACT Acura ILX Audi A3 BMW i3 Buick Verano Chevrolet Cruze Chevrolet Sonic Chevrolet Volt Dodge Dart Fiat 500L Ford Focus Ford Focus Electric Honda Civic Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Ioniq Kia Forte Kia Soul Mazda3 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Mini Cooper Clubman Mitsubishi Lancer Nissan Leaf Nissan Sentra Subaru Impreza Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla iM Toyota Prius Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen Jetta

X Z X

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Opt. -

Good Marg. Good Good

Good Good Good Good

Z/5

Z Z Z

4/Z Z/5 Z/5

4/4/4/-

Std.

Z C C X

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. -

Accept. Poor Good Marg. Good Marg.

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good

Opt.

Good

Opt.

Good

Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. -

Good Good Accept. Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

4/Z/Z/-

C X C C Z C-X

X X X

X/4 X/4 4/Z

X/4 4/4/-

Z/5

4/-

Z Z Z Z

4/Z 4/Z 4/Z 4/Z

X/X/X/4 X/-

Z/5

X/-

Z X X

Z/5 4/Z 4/Z

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

4/Z Z/5 Z/5 Z/5 Z/5 Z/5 Z/5 4/Z

X/4 X/X/X/4 Z/X/Z/X/X/-/Z -/X X/-

4/Z

X/X/-

CARS: MIDSIZED Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet SS Chrysler 200 Ford C-MAX Hybrid Ford C-MAX Plug-in Ford Fusion Honda Accord Hyundai Sonata Kia Optima Mazda6 Nissan Altima Subaru Legacy Subaru Outback Toyota Camry Toyota Mirai Toyota Prius V Volkswagen Passat ConsumerReports.org/cars

X Z C-X C C C-Z X C Z X X Z X X -

C X

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

187

S A F E T Y F E AT U R E S

Front Small Overlap

Offset Frontal

Side

Rear

Roof Crush

Combined Overall

Overall Front/Side

Rollover 2WD/4WD

NHTSA SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking—Highway

IIHS SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking —City

FRONT CRASH PREVENTION Forward Collision Warning

CR TESTS Accident Avoidance

MAKE & MODEL

Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Std. Std.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Opt.

Marg. Good Marg. Good Good Accept. Marg. Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Z/5

Std. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Good Good -

CARS: LUXURY MIDSIZED Acura TLX Alfa Romeo Giulia Audi A4 Audi Allroad BMW 3 Series Buick Regal Cadillac ATS Infiniti Q50 Jaguar XE Lexus CT 200h Lexus ES Lexus IS Lincoln MKZ Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mercedes-Benz CLA Volkswagen CC Volvo S60 Volvo V60

Z Z Z Z -

X C C Z X Z X Z X

Z Z Z -

Z Z -

4/Z 4/Z Z/5 -/Z

Z/5 X/4 Z/5 Z/5

4/Z 4/Z -

4/Z

X/Z/5 X/4 X/4 -

Z/5

X/4 Z/5

Good Good -

Z Z

Z/5 Z/5

Z/5

CARS: LARGE/LUXURY Acura RLX Audi A6 Audi A7 Audi A8 BMW 5 Series BMW 7 Series Buick LaCrosse Cadillac CT6 Cadillac CTS Cadillac XTS Chevrolet Impala Chrysler 300 Dodge Charger Ford Taurus Genesis G80 Genesis G90 Infiniti Q70 Jaguar XF Jaguar XJ Kia Cadenza Kia K900 Lexus GS Lexus LS Lincoln Continental Maserati Ghibli Mercedes-Benz CLS Mercedes-Benz E-Class Mercedes-Benz S-Class Nissan Maxima Porsche Panamera Tesla Model S Toyota Avalon Volvo S90

Z Z -

Z X Z -

Z Z Z X 4-Z X Z -

4-Z -

X -

X C -

Z -

Z X -

Z X

188 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

Opt.

Marg.

Good

4/Z

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Std.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Std.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Std.

Marg. Marg. Marg. Good Good Good Good -

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good -

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good -

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good -

Z Z Z X Z Z Z

Z/5 Z/5 Z/5 4/Z 4/Z Z/5 Z/5

Z/5 X/4 X/X/4 Z/5 X/4 Z/5

4/Z

X/4

Z/5

Z/-

Z Z

Z/5 4/Z

Z/5 4/-

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Better

Good

Opt.

Z Z Z

Good

Accept.

Opt.

Marg.

Good

Accept.

4/Z

4/-

4-Z Z

Rear

Good

Side

Offset Frontal

Front Small Overlap

Opt.

Automatic Braking—Highway

Opt.

Automatic Braking —City

Forward Collision Warning

Rollover 2WD/4WD

NHTSA SAFETY TESTS Overall Front/Side

IIHS SAFETY TESTS

Combined Overall

FRONT CRASH PREVENTION

Roof Crush

CR TESTS Accident Avoidance

MAKE & MODEL

Worse

CARS: SPORTY/CONVERTIBLE Alfa Romeo 4C Audi A5 Audi TT BMW 2 Series BMW 4 Series BMW 6 Series BMW Z4 Buick Cascada Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Corvette Dodge Challenger Fiat 124 Fiat 500 Abarth/convertible Ford Mustang

X Z Z

Std.

Opt.

Accept.

Good

Z/5

Z/-

Opt.

Good

Good -

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Mercedes-Benz SL

Opt.

Std.

Z Z

Opt.

Good

X/4

4/-

Opt.

Z Z Z Z Z

Opt.

Accept.

Good

4/Z

Z/-

Opt.

Good

Accept.

Good

Opt.

Good

Z Z

4/Z 4/Z

Z/4/-

Opt.

C X C C

Poor

Good

Opt.

Good

Good Good

X Z Z Z

4/Z 4/Z Z/5 Z/5

4/4/4/4/-

Lexus RC

Mercedes-Benz SLC Mini Cooper S Nissan Z Porsche 718 Boxster Porsche 718 Cayman Porsche 911 Subaru BRZ Subaru WRX/STi Toyota 86 Volkswagen GTI

Opt.

Jaguar F-Type

MINIVANS Chrysler Pacifica Dodge Grand Caravan Ford Transit Connect Honda Odyssey Kia Sedona Mercedes-Benz Metris Nissan Quest Toyota Sienna

Opt.

Good

Opt.

C C

Poor

Good

Accept.

Opt.

Accept.

Good

4/Z

X/4

Z/5 Z/5

X/4 X/4

SUVs: SMALL Audi Q3 BMW X1 Buick Encore Chevrolet Trax Fiat 500X Ford Escape Honda CR-V Honda HR-V Hyundai Tucson

ConsumerReports.org/cars

X X Z X X X X X 4-Z

Good

Opt.

Good

Opt.

Good

Z Z

Opt.

Good

Opt.

Good

Opt.

Good

Z Z Z Z

Z/Z Z/5 4/Z Z/5

X/4 X/4 X/4 X/4

Accept.

Good

Accept.

Good

Opt.

Good

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

189

S A F E T Y F E AT U R E S

Rear

Roof Crush

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Marg. Poor Good Good Good Good Good Accept. Poor Good Good Good Good Marg. Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good

X B X C

Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Good Good Good Good Marg. Poor Accept. Marg. Accept. Good Good Good Good Marg. Good Good -

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good -

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Marg.* Good -

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Marg. Good -

Opt.

Rollover 2WD/4WD

Side

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt.

Overall Front/Side

Offset Frontal

Combined Overall

Front Small Overlap

NHTSA SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking—Highway

IIHS SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking —City

FRONT CRASH PREVENTION Forward Collision Warning

CR TESTS Accident Avoidance

MAKE & MODEL

SUVs: SMALL continued Infiniti QX30 Jeep Cherokee Jeep Compass Jeep Patriot Jeep Renegade Kia Sportage Lincoln MKC Mazda CX-3 Mazda CX-5 Mercedes-Benz GLA Mini Cooper Countryman Mitsubishi Outlander Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Nissan Juke Nissan Rogue Porsche Macan Subaru Crosstrek Subaru Forester Toyota RAV4 Volkswagen Tiguan Volvo XC60

C-4 V C X -

Z X X Z X C -

X Z X Z C X X

X -

X X -

4/Z C/C/Z 4/Z -

X/4 X/4 C/3 X/C -

X Z X

4/Z Z/5 4/Z

X/4 X/4 X/4

Z X X X -

4/Z 4/Z C/Z 4/Z

X/4 X/4 X/4 X/4

-/4 -/4

Z Z Z X Z

4/Z 4/Z 4/Z C/Z Z/5

X/4 X/4 X/4

Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good -

Z Z X Z

Z/5 Z/5 4/Z Z/5

X/4 X/4 -/4 X/4

SUVs: MIDSIZED/LUXURY Acura MDX Acura RDX Audi Q5 BMW X3 BMW X4 BMW X5 BMW X6 Buick Envision Cadillac XT5 Chevrolet Equinox Dodge Durango Dodge Journey Ford Edge Ford Explorer Ford Flex GMC Terrain Honda Pilot Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Infiniti QX50 Infiniti QX60 Infiniti QX70 Jaguar F-Pace Jeep Grand Cherokee Jeep Wrangler Kia Sorento Land Rover Discovery Sport Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Lexus GX

X X Z Z -

X -

C C C X C C C C X X -

C X -

Z/5

X/4

X X X Z Z -

X Z -

4/Z 4/Z 4/Z Z/5 Z/5 -

4/Z 4/Z -

4/Z

X/4 X/4 X/4

Z/5

X/4 X/C X/4 X/4 X/4 X/4 X/4 X/4

Z/5

C/X -/C X/4

* Tested without optional side air bags.

190 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Better

Overall Front/Side

Rollover 2WD/4WD

Z/5

Rear

X/4 X/4 X/4 X/4

Side

4/Z 4/Z

Offset Frontal

Z X

Front Small Overlap

Good

Automatic Braking—Highway

Combined Overall

NHTSA SAFETY TESTS Roof Crush

IIHS SAFETY TESTS

Automatic Braking —City

FRONT CRASH PREVENTION Forward Collision Warning

CR TESTS

C-4 C

Opt.

Good

Opt.

Good

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Std.

Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Std.

Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Opt. Std.

Good Good Good Good -

Good Good Good Good Good -

Good Good Good Good -

Accident Avoidance

MAKE & MODEL

Worse

SUVs: MIDSIZED/LUXURY continued Lexus NX Lexus RX Lincoln MKT Lincoln MKX Maserati Levante Mazda CX-9 Mercedes-Benz GLC Mercedes-Benz GLE Nissan Murano Nissan Pathfinder Porsche Cayenne Tesla Model X Toyota 4Runner Toyota Highlander Volkswagen Touareg Volvo XC90

Z -

X C X C X -

C C-4 -

Marg.

Good

Opt. Opt. Std.

Opt. Std.

Good Good

Good Good Good

Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Std. -

Std. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Std. -

Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Opt. Std. Std. Opt. Std. -

Good -

Good Good Good -

Opt. Opt. Opt. -

Opt. -

Good Good Good Good

Good Good

Accept. -

Opt. Opt. Opt. -

Marg. Good Marg. Marg. Marg.

Good Good Good Good Good

-/Z

4/Z

X/4 X/4 X/4

X Z

4/Z 4/Z

C/3 X/4

-/4

Z/5

SUVs: LARGE/LUXURY Audi Q7 Buick Enclave Cadillac Escalade Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet Traverse Ford Expedition GMC Acadia GMC Yukon GMC Yukon XL Infiniti QX80 Land Rover LR4 Land Rover Range Rover Land Rover Range Rover Sport Lexus LX Lincoln Navigator Mercedes-Benz GLS Nissan Armada Toyota Land Cruiser Toyota Sequoia

Z C C C C C C -

C C C -

C X -

C C -

C V

Z -

X X Z Z -

Z/5 -/Z 4/Z Z/5 Z/5 Z/5 -

X/4 C/3 C/3 C/3 X/4 C/X -

X X

Z/5 4/Z

C/3 C/3

Z/5

C/X

X/4

X X

4/Z 4/Z

C/3 C/3

4/Z

C/X X/4

Good Good Good Marg. Accept.

Z Z Z

Z/5 Z/5 Z/5

X/4 X/4 X/4

PICKUPS: COMPACT Chevrolet Colorado GMC Canyon Honda Ridgeline Nissan Frontier Toyota Tacoma

C C -

PICKUPS: FULL-SIZED Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Ford F-150 GMC Sierra 1500 Nissan Titan XD Ram 1500 Toyota Tundra

ConsumerReports.org/cars

C C C -

C B

X X

4/Z 4/Z

X/C C/X

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

191

R AT I N G S & R E F E R E N C E

Vehicle Dimensions These charts allow you to easily compare the interior and exterior dimensions of different models, along with cargo, load, and towing capacity. We have detailed data on 252 models, much being compiled from measurements taken during our testing. Data for vehicles not tested by us or not yet on sale were provided by manufacturers.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT > Length, width, height, and wheelbase data come from the manufacturer. > The weight of tested vehicles is measured on our scales. Data for other vehicles come from the manufacturer.

CARGO > Max. load is the maximum weight of passengers and cargo the vehicle can safely carry. It is specified by the manufacturer or, in the case of some tested vehicles, calculated based on the difference between the

> Front, rear, and third-row shoulder room (for vehicles with third-row seats) are either our measurements or manufacturer data. For three adults to sit abreast comfortably, rear shoulder room should be 55 inches or more. > Front leg room is the maximum distance from the heel point of the driver to the base

Weight (lb.)

Max. Load (lb.)

Cargo Volume (cu.ft.)

Towing Capacity (lb.)

Front Shoulder Room (in.)

ront Leg Room (in.)

Front Head Room (in.)

Rear Shoulder Room (in.)

Rear Leg Room (in.)

Rear Head Rooom (in.)

Third-Row Shoulder Room (in.)

Third-Row Leg Room (in.)

Third-Row Head Room (in.)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase (in.)

CARGO

Height (in.)

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Width (in.)

Acura ILX Acura MDX Acura RDX Acura RLX Acura TLX Alfa Romeo 4C Alfa Romeo Giulia Audi A3 Audi A4 Audi A5 Audi A6 Audi A7 Audi A8 Audi Allroad Audi Q3 Audi Q5 Audi Q7 Audi TT BMW 2 Series BMW 3 Series BMW 4 Series BMW 5 Series BMW 6 Series BMW 7 Series

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

of the seatback, with the seat adjusted as far back as it will go. >Rear or third-row leg room is measured with the front seat adjusted to provide 40 inches of front leg room. > Head room is the clearance above a 5-foot9-inch person. > NA means data are not available; we were unable to measure the vehicle completely. A dash (–) means not applicable.

Length (in.)

MAKE & MODEL

manufacturer’s specified gross weight and our tested vehicle’s weight. > Cargo volume for wagons, minivans, and sport-utility vehicles is our measurement with the rear seats folded. We use an adjustable pipe-frame box and enlarge it until it no longer fits through the rear hatch. Data for cars come from the government. > Towing capacity is the maximum weight for the vehicles we tested. For the ones we did not test, we included the manufacturer’s tow rating for a typical model. NR denotes not recommended for towing.

182 194 184 196 190 158 183 175 186 182 194 196 207 186 173 182 200 165 175 183 183 193 193 207

71 77 74 74 74 74 74 70 73 73 74 75 77 71 72 75 78 72 70 71 72 73 75 75

56 68 65 58 57 47 56 56 56 54 58 56 58 58 63 65 69 53 56 56 54 57 54 58

105 111 106 112 109 94 111 104 111 108 115 115 123 110 103 111 118 99 106 111 111 117 112 126

3,095 4,200 3,850 3,930 3,480 2,465 3,300 3,135 3,630 4,050 4,075 4,235 4,420 3,875 3,680 4,190 5,080 3,140 3,450 3,485 3,470 4,035 4,355 4,710

850 1,175 870 850 850 335 NA 1,100 1,060 880 1,100 1,100 1,100 NA 1,060 1,045 1,365 770 805 905 790 1,060 770 960

12.0 34.0 31.5 13.0 13.0 4.0 NA 13.0 13.0 12.0 14.0 25.0 13.0 NA 24.5 32.0 35.5 12.0 14.0 17.0 16.0 14.0 13.0 18.0

NR 5,000 1,500 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NA 2,200 4,410 7,700 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR

55.0 60.5 58.0 59.5 57.0 50.0 NA 54.5 56.0 54.0 56.0 56.0 59.0 55.0 55.0 57.0 59.0 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 57.0 57.0 59.0

41.0 41.0 41.0 41.5 41.0 NA NA 42.0 NA 42.5 44.0 42.5 43.0 NA 42.0 42.0 42.0 41.5 42.0 42.0 NA 42.0 NA 42.5

2.5 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 NA NA 3.0 NA 5.0 4.0 3.0 3.5 NA 4.0 4.5 4.5 3.5 3.5 4.0 NA 3.5 NA 4.0

50.0 58.5 56.0 56.0 54.0 NA 51.5 54.5 43.0 53.0 54.0 57.0 54.0 52.5 55.0 57.5 46.5 51.5 54.0 51.5 55.0 49.5 55.0

27.5 30.0 30.0 31.0 27.0 NA 26.0 NA 24.0 29.0 27.5 34.0 NA 26.0 25.5 29.0 19.5 25.0 28.5 NA 29.0 NA 32.5

1.5 3.5 4.0 3.0 2.5 NA 1.0 NA 2.0 3.0 1.5 3.5 NA 3.0 2.5 3.5 0.0 0.0 2.5 NA 4.0 NA 3.5

52.0 50.0 -

25.0 26.5 -

0.0 1.0 -

192 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Wheelbase (in.)

Weight (lb.)

Max. Load (lb.)

Cargo Volume (cu.ft.)

Towing Capacity (lb.)

Front Shoulder Room (in.)

ront Leg Room (in.)

Front Head Room (in.)

Rear Shoulder Room (in.)

Rear Leg Room (in.)

Rear Head Rooom (in.)

Third-Row Shoulder Room (in.)

Third-Row Leg Room (in.)

Third-Row Head Room (in.)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Height (in.)

CARGO

Width (in.)

BMW i3 BMW X1 BMW X3 BMW X4 BMW X5 BMW X6 BMW Z4 Buick Cascada Buick Enclave Buick Encore Buick Envision Buick LaCrosse Buick Regal Buick Verano Cadillac ATS Cadillac CT6 Cadillac CTS Cadillac Escalade Cadillac XT5 Cadillac XTS Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Colorado Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Cruze Chevrolet Equinox Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Chevrolet Sonic Chevrolet Spark Chevrolet SS Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet Traverse Chevrolet Trax Chevrolet Volt Chrysler 200 Chrysler 300 Chrysler Pacifica Dodge Challenger Dodge Charger Dodge Dart Dodge Durango Dodge Grand Caravan Dodge Journey Fiat 124 Spider Fiat 500 Fiat 500L Fiat 500X Ford C-MAX Ford Edge Ford Escape Ford Expedition Ford Explorer Ford F-150 Ford Fiesta Ford Flex Ford Focus

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length (in.)

MAKE & MODEL

157 175 183 184 192 192 167 185 202 168 184 198 190 184 183 204 196 204 190 202 188 213 177 184 188 201 194 230 173 143 196 224 204 204 167 180 192 199 204 198 198 184 200 203 192 160 140 167 167 174 188 178 221 198 232 174 202 179

70 72 74 74 76 78 71 72 79 70 72 73 73 71 71 74 72 81 75 73 75 74 74 71 73 73 73 80 68 63 75 81 81 78 70 71 74 75 80 76 75 72 76 79 72 69 64 70 71 72 76 72 79 79 80 68 80 72

62 63 65 64 69 67 51 57 72 65 67 58 58 58 56 58 57 74 66 59 53 79 49 57 66 59 58 74 60 58 58 74 74 70 66 56 55 58 70 57 58 58 71 68 68 49 60 66 64 64 69 66 79 70 77 58 68 58

101 105 111 111 116 116 96 106 119 101 108 114 108 106 109 122 115 116 113 112 111 128 107 106 113 112 112 144 99 94 115 130 116 119 101 106 108 120 122 116 120 106 120 121 114 91 91 103 101 104 112 106 131 113 145 98 118 104

3,140 3,725 4,135 4,130 4,745 4,750 3,240 3,980 5,100 3,355 4,050 4,000 3,710 3,465 3,420 4,040 3,915 5,820 4,300 4,090 3,730 4,500 3,470 2,915 4,155 3,855 3,125 5,415 2,765 2,280 4,025 5,945 5,635 4,975 3,255 3,520 3,650 4,095 4,535 4,190 4,335 3,260 5,105 4,685 4,410 2,435 2,415 3,330 3,280 3,615 4,205 3,885 6,265 4,780 5,025 2,665 4,820 2,990

650 900 905 905 1,345 935 560 740 1,335 945 NA NA 925 880 870 910 890 1,310 1,620 925 725 1,555 525 870 1,040 945 900 1,705 895 660 915 1,455 1,580 1,405 945 750 900 865 1,300 865 865 825 1,200 1,150 1,165 NA 750 860 1,080 825 935 825 1,440 1,280 1,925 825 1,160 825

12.0 27.0 33.0 NA 34.5 NA 6.0 13.0 44.0 26.0 NA 14.0 14.0 14.0 10.0 15.0 14.0 48.0 NA 18.0 11.0 15.0 15.0 33.5 19.0 16.0 14.0 11.0 18.0 62.5 47.5 48.5 26.0 11.0 16.0 16.0 66.0 16.0 16.0 13.0 44.0 61.5 37.0 5.0 10.0 22.5 19.5 28.0 39.0 35.0 71.0 42.0 13.0 47.5 13.0

NR NR 3,000 3,000 6,000 NR NR NR 4,500 NR 1,500 NA NR 1,000 NR 1,000 1,000 8,100 3,500 1,000 NR 7,000 NR 1,000 3,500 1,000 1,000 11,200 NR NR NR 8,000 8,300 5,200 NR NR NR 1,000 3,600 1,000 1,000 1,000 6,200 3,600 2,500 NR NR NR NR NR 3,500 3,500 9,100 5,000 10,700 NR 4,500 NR

53.5 55.0 57.0 57.0 60.5 60.0 52.0 54.5 62.0 53.0 57.0 57.5 56.5 54.5 55.0 58.0 56.5 64.0 58.5 56.0 55.0 57.5 53.0 54.0 55.0 56.0 57.0 65.0 52.0 50.0 58.5 64.5 64.5 61.0 53.0 56.0 57.5 57.5 63.5 58.5 57.0 57.5 58.0 64.0 57.0 52.0 48.5 56.0 53.5 55.5 58.0 55.5 63.0 60.5 66.0 52.0 58.5 55.5

42.0 40.0 43.0 NA 42.0 NA 41.5 41.5 41.5 42.0 NA NA 43.0 44.0 43.0 NA 42.0 43.0 NA 43.5 42.5 43.0 41.0 43.0 43.5 43.0 43.0 44.0 42.0 41.5 44.0 43.5 43.5 41.0 43.0 43.0 42.0 43.0 42.0 42.0 41.5 42.0 42.0 41.0 41.0 NA 40.5 41.0 41.5 42.0 42.5 42.0 42.0 42.0 43.0 41.5 41.5 42.0

4.5 4.0 4.5 NA 4.5 NA 4.5 5.0 3.5 4.0 NA NA 3.0 4.0 3.5 NA 4.0 4.0 NA 3.5 2.0 5.5 3.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 5.5 8.5 5.5 1.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 3.5 6.5 3.5 2.0 3.0 6.5 6.0 2.5 4.5 4.0 3.0 4.5 NA 4.5 7.0 6.0 7.0 3.5 4.5 3.5 5.5 7.5 5.0 6.5 4.5

48.0 55.5 55.5 56.0 58.5 57.0 46.0 60.5 49.0 56.0 56.5 53.0 52.0 53.0 56.0 53.0 64.0 56.0 54.0 47.5 55.5 51.5 55.0 53.0 54.5 64.0 52.0 48.0 57.5 64.5 64.5 60.5 50.0 52.0 55.0 54.5 63.0 53.0 55.0 54.5 57.0 63.5 56.5 46.5 52.5 51.5 53.0 59.0 53.5 63.5 60.0 65.5 48.0 58.0 51.0

26.0 26.5 28.5 NA 27.0 NA 24.5 30.0 25.5 NA NA 29.0 27.0 27.5 NA 28.5 30.0 NA 32.5 23.0 28.0 29.0 32.0 32.0 29.0 32.0 24.0 24.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 26.0 27.5 29.0 29.5 31.0 23.0 28.0 27.5 28.0 32.5 26.0 23.0 28.5 26.5 28.5 30.5 26.5 29.0 27.0 34.5 24.5 31.5 27.0

3.0 3.5 4.0 NA 4.5 NA 0.0 4.0 4.0 NA NA 1.5 2.5 2.0 NA 2.0 4.0 NA 3.0 0.0 3.0 1.5 4.5 2.0 3.0 5.5 2.5 4.5 2.0 5.0 4.5 4.0 4.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 4.5 1.0 2.0 2.0 5.0 3.0 4.5 0.0 3.5 2.5 5.0 3.0 2.5 4.5 3.5 6.0 1.5 7.5 2.0

45.0 56.0 63.0 64.0 63.5 55.0 61.0 49.0 59.0 51.0 52.0 48.5 50.0 -

23.5 24.0 27.0 27.0 27.0 24.0 29.0 26.0 27.0 24.0 28.0 27.0 28.0 -

1.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 4.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 2.5 3.0 2.0 -

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

193

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase (in.)

Weight (lb.)

Max. Load (lb.)

Cargo Volume (cu.ft.)

Towing Capacity (lb.)

Front Shoulder Room (in.)

ront Leg Room (in.)

Front Head Room (in.)

Rear Shoulder Room (in.)

Rear Leg Room (in.)

Rear Head Rooom (in.)

Third-Row Shoulder Room (in.)

Third-Row Leg Room (in.)

Third-Row Head Room (in.)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Height (in.)

CARGO

Width (in.)

Ford Fusion Ford Mustang Ford Taurus Ford Transit Connect Genesis G80 Genesis G90 GMC Acadia GMC Canyon GMC Sierra 1500 GMC Terrain GMC Yukon GMC Yukon XL Honda Accord Honda Civic Honda CR-V Honda CR-Z Honda Fit Honda HR-V Honda Odyssey Honda Pilot Honda Ridgeline Hyundai Accent Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Ioniq Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Hyundai Sonata Hyundai Tucson Hyundai Veloster Infiniti Q50 Infiniti Q70 Infiniti QX30 Infiniti QX50 Infiniti QX60 Infiniti QX70 Infiniti QX80 Jaguar F-Pace Jaguar F-Type Jaguar XE Jaguar XF Jaguar XJ Jeep Cherokee Jeep Compass Jeep Grand Cherokee Jeep Patriot Jeep Renegade Jeep Wrangler Kia Cadenza Kia Forte Kia K900 Kia Optima Kia Rio Kia Sedona Kia Sorento Kia Soul Kia Sportage Land Rover Discovery Sport

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length (in.)

MAKE & MODEL

192 188 203 190 197 205 194 212 230 188 204 224 191 182 179 161 160 169 203 195 210 172 180 176 193 185 191 176 166 188 195 174 187 196 191 208 186 176 184 195 207 182 173 190 174 167 173 196 180 201 191 172 201 187 163 176

73 75 76 72 74 75 75 74 80 73 81 81 73 71 72 69 67 70 79 79 79 67 71 72 74 74 73 73 71 72 73 72 71 77 76 80 87 74 77 78 75 73 69 77 69 71 74 74 70 75 73 68 78 74 71 73

58 54 61 72 58 59 66 79 74 66 74 74 58 56 65 55 60 63 68 70 71 57 57 57 67 66 58 65 55 57 59 60 63 68 66 76 66 52 56 58 57 66 65 68 67 66 71 58 57 59 58 57 69 66 63 64

112 107 113 121 119 124 113 128 144 113 116 130 109 106 103 96 99 103 118 111 125 101 106 106 110 106 110 105 104 112 114 106 113 114 114 121 113 103 112 117 124 106 104 115 104 101 116 112 106 120 110 101 121 109 101 105

3,615 3,845 4,090 3,580 4,530 5,335 3,955 4,500 5,415 3,945 5,635 5,945 3,245 2,745 3,530 2,635 2,625 3,045 4,530 4,280 4,430 2,550 2,865 NA 4,210 3,760 3,315 3,595 2,765 3,835 3,895 3,300 4,015 4,530 4,225 5,990 4,340 3,520 3,350 4,175 4,200 4,120 3,590 4,900 3,350 3,360 4,570 3,765 2,815 4,555 3,300 2,575 4,595 4,175 3,055 3,485

850 670 950 1,270 905 NA 1,610 1,555 1,705 1,095 1,580 1,455 850 850 850 400 850 850 1,340 1,340 1,585 850 850 850 1,295 930 905 970 700 900 860 880 860 1,150 950 1,590 NA 420 NA 960 880 1,000 925 1,050 925 985 850 905 850 905 905 925 1,325 1,120 825 970

16.0 14.0 20.0 61.0 15.0 16.0 NA 33.5 47.5 62.5 16.0 13.0 36.0 25.0 17.0 32.0 61.5 48.0 14.0 14.0 27.0 40.5 35.5 16.0 29.5 16.0 14.0 15.0 NA NA 39.0 25.5 49.5 NA 7.0 16.0 19.0 15.0 31.0 26.5 36.5 29.5 30.5 34.5 16.0 15.0 16.0 16.0 14.0 46.0 37.5 24.5 29.5

2,000 1,000 1,000 2,000 NR NR 4,000 7,000 11,200 1,500 8,200 8,000 1,000 NR 1,500 NR NR NR 3,500 5,000 5,000 NR NR NR 5,000 2,000 NR 1,500 NR NR NR NR NR 5,000 2,000 8,500 5,290 NR NA 4,080 NR 4,500 1,000 6,200 1,000 2,000 3,500 NR NR NR NR NR 3,500 5,000 NR 2,000

57.5 56.0 57.5 57.5 57.5 59.0 59.5 57.5 65.0 55.5 64.5 64.5 58.5 56.5 58.0 53.0 54.0 56.0 64.0 61.0 62.0 53.0 55.0 56.0 59.0 58.5 57.5 56.0 54.5 55.5 57.0 55.0 55.0 59.0 56.5 63.5 58.0 56.5 NA 56.5 57.0 57.0 54.0 58.0 54.5 55.0 56.0 58.5 55.0 59.0 56.5 52.5 63.0 58.5 55.0 56.0

42.0 42.5 41.5 41.0 42.0 NA NA 43.0 44.0 43.0 43.5 43.5 41.0 42.0 41.0 42.0 40.0 41.0 41.0 41.0 NA 41.5 43.0 NA 41.5 41.0 42.5 41.5 41.5 41.5 41.5 NA NA 41.5 41.5 40.5 NA NA NA NA 42.0 42.5 41.5 41.5 41.0 43.0 41.0 NA 41.5 NA 42.0 42.0 42.5 42.0 42.0 41.5

2.5 4.0 3.5 13.5 3.5 NA NA 5.5 8.5 6.5 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 4.0 3.5 3.5 5.0 2.5 6.0 NA 5.0 5.0 NA 6.0 6.0 5.0 5.5 2.0 3.5 4.0 NA NA 4.0 3.5 5.0 NA NA NA NA 2.5 5.5 6.5 4.0 4.0 7.0 6.5 NA 4.5 NA 4.0 5.0 6.5 5.5 4.5 5.5

54.5 50.0 56.0 58.0 56.0 58.0 58.5 55.5 64.0 55.5 64.5 64.5 55.5 54.0 55.0 49.5 51.5 62.5 60.5 61.5 51.0 53.5 55.0 56.5 56.0 55.5 54.0 50.5 54.5 54.0 53.0 55.0 59.0 56.0 63.0 56.0 NA 55.5 56.0 54.0 53.5 57.0 54.0 52.5 58.0 56.5 52.5 57.0 54.5 49.5 62.5 56.5 53.0 53.0

29.0 23.0 28.5 31.0 29.5 NA NA 28.0 32.0 31.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 29.0 29.0 30.0 32.0 28.0 NA 26.0 27.5 NA 30.0 28.0 30.5 28.0 26.5 28.0 29.5 NA NA 28.0 27.0 31.0 NA NA NA 34.0 29.0 27.0 27.0 26.0 27.0 28.0 NA 28.5 NA 29.5 26.0 32.0 27.5 28.5 28.0

2.5 0.0 3.5 10.0 2.5 NA NA 3.0 5.5 5.5 4.5 5.0 2.0 2.0 4.5 2.0 3.5 5.0 5.5 NA 2.0 2.5 NA 5.0 4.5 3.0 5.0 0.0 2.0 3.0 NA NA 3.5 4.5 5.0 NA NA NA 2.5 4.0 5.0 4.5 6.0 6.0 6.0 NA 2.0 NA 3.5 2.5 5.0 5.0 2.5 4.5

56.5 54.5 63.5 64.0 59.5 56.0 53.0 55.0 58.0 59.0 52.0 -

29.5 NA 27.0 27.0 29.0 27.5 31.0 27.0 25.0 27.5 26.0 -

6.5 NA 0.0 4.0 3.5 4.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.0 0.0 -

181

108

4,325

935

33.0

4,410

58.5

41.0

6.5

56.0

29.5

4.5

194 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Wheelbase (in.)

Weight (lb.)

Max. Load (lb.)

Cargo Volume (cu.ft.)

Towing Capacity (lb.)

Front Shoulder Room (in.)

ront Leg Room (in.)

Front Head Room (in.)

Rear Shoulder Room (in.)

Rear Leg Room (in.)

Rear Head Rooom (in.)

Third-Row Shoulder Room (in.)

Third-Row Leg Room (in.)

Third-Row Head Room (in.)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Height (in.)

CARGO

Width (in.)

Land Rover LR4 Land Rover Range Rover Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Land Rover Range Rover Sport Lexus CT 200h Lexus ES Lexus GS Lexus GX Lexus IS Lexus LS Lexus LX Lexus NX Lexus RC Lexus RX Lincoln Continental Lincoln MKC Lincoln MKT Lincoln MKX Lincoln MKZ Lincoln Navigator Maserati Ghibli Maserati Levante Mazda CX-3 Mazda CX-5 Mazda CX-9 Mazda MX-5 Miata Mazda3 Mazda6 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mercedes-Benz CLA Mercedes-Benz CLS Mercedes-Benz E-Class Mercedes-Benz GLA Mercedes-Benz GLC Mercedes-Benz GLE Mercedes-Benz GLS Mercedes-Benz Metris Mercedes-Benz S-Class Mercedes-Benz SL Mercedes-Benz SLC Mini Cooper Mini Cooper Clubman Mini Cooper Countryman Mitsubishi i-MiEV Mitsubishi Lancer Mitsubishi Mirage Mitsubishi Outlander Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Nissan Altima Nissan Armada Nissan Frontier Nissan Juke Nissan Leaf Nissan Maxima Nissan Murano

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length (in.)

MAKE & MODEL

190 197

75 78

72 72

114 115

5,710 5,300

1,300 960

52.5 34.5

7,715 7,715

59.0 60.5

40.5 42.5

5.0 5.5

59.0 59.0

27.5 29.0

8.0 4.0

43.0 -

27.5 -

4.5 -

172

105

3,940

1,025

25.5

3,500

56.5

42.0

5.0

55.5

25.5

4.5

191

115

5,255

1,345

31.5

7,715

60.5

42.0

4.5

59.0

28.0

3.0

43.0

23.0

0.0

171 193 192 192 184 205 199 182 185 193 201 179 208 190 194 207 196 197 168 179 199 154 180 192

70 72 72 74 71 74 78 74 72 75 78 73 76 76 73 80 77 78 70 72 77 68 71 72

57 57 57 74 56 58 73 65 55 68 59 65 67 66 58 78 58 66 61 66 68 49 57 57

102 111 112 110 110 122 112 105 108 110 118 106 118 112 112 119 118 118 101 106 115 91 106 111

3,225 3,575 3,845 5,170 3,850 4,515 6,000 4,000 3,750 4,435 NA 4,070 4,980 4,560 3,755 6,140 4,625 4,905 2,945 3,435 4,280 2,335 2,875 3,185

825 905 825 1,155 825 825 1,385 895 700 920 NA 825 1,160 1,030 875 1,380 925 NA 850 850 1,190 340 850 850

18.0 15.0 16.0 36.5 14.0 18.0 NA 28.5 10.0 30.0 17.0 30.5 36.0 32.5 15.0 61.5 18.0 NA 18.0 33.0 NA 5.0 12.0 15.0

NR NR NR 6,500 NR NR 7,000 2,000 NR 3,500 NA 2,000 4,500 3,500 1,000 8,700 NR 6,000 NR 2,000 3,500 NR NR NR

53.5 57.5 56.5 57.0 55.0 57.0 61.5 56.5 54.5 57.5 58.5 55.5 58.5 58.0 57.0 63.0 57.5 NA 52.5 56.5 58.0 51.5 57.0 57.0

42.0 42.5 43.0 42.0 42.5 41.5 NA 42.0 NA 42.0 NA 41.0 41.0 40.5 41.5 42.5 42.0 NA 41.5 42.0 NA 41.0 41.5 41.0

3.0 3.0 3.0 5.5 3.0 3.5 NA 3.0 NA 3.0 NA 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 4.5 3.0 NA 4.0 4.0 NA 2.0 4.0 4.0

52.0 54.0 55.0 57.0 51.5 53.5 61.5 57.0 51.0 56.0 56.0 54.0 57.5 57.0 54.5 63.5 55.5 NA 48.0 54.0 58.0 52.0 53.5

26.0 30.5 28.0 30.0 28.5 35.0 NA 30.0 NA 30.5 NA 25.5 30.5 28.0 28.0 29.0 26.0 NA 25.5 28.5 NA 28.0 29.0

3.0 2.5 2.5 6.0 2.5 3.5 NA 3.5 NA 5.0 NA 2.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 5.0 2.5 NA 3.0 4.5 NA 4.0 3.0

44.0 62.5 47.0 50.0 53.0 -

24.5 NA 27.0 30.5 NA -

1.0 NA 0.0 2.5 NA -

172

106

3,955

785

55.5

54.5

185 182 195 194 174 183 189 202 202 207 182 163 151 168 162 145 182 149 185

71 70 74 73 71 74 76 76 76 75 74 72 68 71 70 62 69 66 71

57 57 56 57 60 65 71 73 74 59 52 51 56 57 62 64 58 59 66

112 106 113 116 106 113 115 121 126 125 102 96 98 105 102 100 104 97 105

3,670 3,335 4,160 3,935 3,535 4,010 4,915 5,660 4,250 4,935 3,935 3,295 2,775 3,175 3,305 2,610 3,015 2,085 3,610

795 860 915 NA 795 950 1,080 1,180 1,875 915 NA 560 770 980 860 660 825 825 1,155

17.0 13.0 11.0 16.0 23.0 28.0 37.5 47.0 NA 16.0 14.0 10.0 9.0 23.0 19.5 13.0 12.0 17.0 32.5

NR NR NR NR NR 4,850 7,200 7,500 5,000 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 1,500

55.0 55.0 57.0 56.0 54.5 57.0 58.0 58.0 NA 59.0 55.5 52.0 50.5 54.5 52.5 52.5 55.0 51.5 56.0

44.0 44.5 NA NA 44.0 44.0 41.5 42.5 NA 45.0 NA NA 42.5 43.5 42.0 39.5 40.5 40.0 40.5

3.0 2.5 NA NA 2.0 4.5 4.5 4.5 NA 3.5 NA NA 3.0 3.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.5

53.0 52.0 56.5 56.0 51.5 55.0 57.5 57.5 NA 57.0 46.0 52.0 50.0 50.0 54.0 50.0 55.0

26.5 27.5 NA NA 26.5 27.5 27.0 28.0 NA 33.0 24.0 27.5 28.5 25.0 27.0 26.5 29.5

1.5 0.0 NA NA 2.0 4.0 4.5 6.0 NA 3.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 4.5 1.5 2.0 3.5

50.0 NA 51.0

25.5 NA 24.0

4.5 NA 0.0

172

105

3,290

825

25.5

56.0

41.0

5.0

55.0

27.0

3.5

192 209 206 162 175 193 192

72 80 73 70 70 73 75

58 76 70 62 61 57 67

109 121 126 100 106 109 111

3,245 5,820 4,655 3,170 3,360 3,535 4,025

900 NA 1,160 860 860 900 900

15.0 NA 11.0 15.0 14.0 33.5

NR 8,500 6,100 NR NR NR 1,500

56.0 64.0 58.0 53.5 54.0 56.0 58.5

42.0 NA 40.0 41.0 41.0 41.5 41.5

5.0 NA 3.0 3.0 6.5 2.5 4.0

54.5 63.5 58.0 49.0 51.5 53.0 57.5

29.0 NA 27.0 25.0 28.5 28.0 29.5

2.0 NA 3.5 1.5 2.5 2.0 2.5

60.5 -

NA -

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

195

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase (in.)

Weight (lb.)

Max. Load (lb.)

Cargo Volume (cu.ft.)

Towing Capacity (lb.)

Front Shoulder Room (in.)

ront Leg Room (in.)

Front Head Room (in.)

Rear Shoulder Room (in.)

Rear Leg Room (in.)

Rear Head Rooom (in.)

Third-Row Shoulder Room (in.)

Third-Row Leg Room (in.)

Third-Row Head Room (in.)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Height (in.)

CARGO

Width (in.)

Nissan Pathfinder Nissan Quest Nissan Rogue Nissan Sentra Nissan Titan XD Nissan Versa Nissan Versa Note Nissan Z Porsche 718 Boxster Porsche 718 Cayman Porsche 911 Porsche Cayenne Porsche Macan Porsche Panamera Ram 1500 Smart ForTwo Subaru BRZ Subaru Crosstrek Subaru Forester Subaru Impreza Subaru Legacy Subaru Outback Subaru WRX/STI Tesla Model S Tesla Model X Toyota 4Runner Toyota 86 Toyota Avalon Toyota Camry Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla iM Toyota Highlander Toyota Land Cruiser Toyota Mirai Toyota Prius Toyota Prius C Toyota Prius V Toyota RAV4 Toyota Sequoia Toyota Sienna Toyota Tacoma Toyota Tundra Toyota Yaris Toyota Yaris iA Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen CC Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen GTI Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen Passat Volkswagen Tiguan Volkswagen Touareg Volvo S60 Volvo S90 Volvo V60 Volvo XC60 Volvo XC90

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT Length (in.)

MAKE & MODEL

197 201 182 182 243 175 164 167 172 172 177 191 184 199 229 106 167 175 181 182 189 190 180 196 198 190 167 195 189 183 171 191 195 193 179 157 182 180 205 200 212 229 154 172 168 189 168 166 182 192 174 189 182 195 183 182 195

77 78 72 69 80 67 67 73 71 71 71 79 76 76 79 65 70 70 71 70 72 72 69 77 82 76 70 72 72 70 69 76 78 72 69 67 70 73 80 78 74 80 67 67 71 73 71 70 70 72 71 76 73 74 73 74 84

70 72 66 59 79 60 61 52 50 50 51 67 64 56 79 61 51 62 66 57 59 66 58 57 64 72 51 58 58 57 55 68 74 60 58 57 62 65 75 69 71 76 59 59 59 56 57 58 57 59 66 67 58 57 61 67 70

114 118 107 106 152 102 102 100 97 97 96 114 111 116 141 74 101 104 104 105 108 108 103 117 117 110 101 111 109 106 102 110 112 109 106 100 109 105 122 119 127 146 99 101 100 107 104 102 104 110 103 114 109 116 109 109 118

4,505 4,570 3,590 2,835 7,400 2,430 2,470 3,385 2,945 2,945 3,235 4,795 4,415 4,165 5,495 2,140 2,770 3,165 3,370 3,015 3,470 3,640 3,320 4,960 5,270 4,665 2,770 3,590 3,155 2,900 2,990 4,490 5,855 4,810 3,080 2,545 3,280 3,620 6,025 4,445 4,450 5,740 2,385 2,420 3,040 3,420 3,090 3,155 3,040 3,320 3,785 5,060 3,610 4,220 3,925 4,275 4,595

1,150 1,160 900 860 1,600 850 850 450 NA NA 660 1,280 1,150 NA 1,270 465 700 900 900 850 850 900 850 890 1,170 1,155 700 930 905 865 915 1,385 1,230 690 825 845 915 900 1,230 1,390 1,000 1,395 845 850 835 925 1,005 1,045 1,025 1,115 1,145 1,105 1,025 NA 990 950 1,210

39.5 62.0 31.5 15.0 15.0 21.0 7.0 4.0 10.0 5.0 33.0 29.0 NA 8.0 7.0 23.0 35.5 12.0 15.0 34.0 11.0 32.0 NA 44.5 7.0 16.0 15.0 13.0 21.0 40.5 43.0 NA 22.0 17.0 32.0 37.0 61.0 70.5 16.0 13.0 11.0 13.0 24.0 24.0 16.0 16.0 30.0 34.5 12.0 14.0 26.0 32.5 35.0

5,000 3,500 1,100 NR 12,000 NR NR NR NR NR NR 7,715 5,220 NR 10,050 NR NR 1,500 1,500 NR NR 2,700 NR NR 5,000 4,700 NR NR NR NR NR 5,000 8,200 NR NR NR NR 1,500 7,300 3,500 6,400 10,000 NR NR NR 2,000 NR NR NR 1,000 2,200 7,700 3,500 4,600 3,300 3,500 5,000

60.0 64.5 56.0 54.5 63.5 50.5 51.0 54.0 50.0 50.5 50.0 58.5 56.5 56.5 65.5 51.0 54.5 55.0 56.0 55.5 58.0 58.0 55.5 57.0 60.5 57.5 54.5 57.5 57.5 54.0 54.0 58.5 61.0 NA 54.0 52.0 56.0 56.5 65.5 64.0 57.5 64.5 51.5 53.0 54.0 55.0 55.5 55.5 54.5 56.5 55.0 59.5 56.5 57.5 56.5 56.0 57.0

42.0 41.0 40.5 41.0 NA 41.0 41.0 39.0 NA NA 43.0 41.5 42.0 NA 41.5 41.5 41.5 41.5 41.5 NA 43.0 42.5 42.0 42.0 NA 41.5 41.5 41.5 42.0 41.5 41.0 42.0 41.5 NA 42.0 41.0 42.0 42.0 41.5 42.0 41.0 42.5 41.5 41.5 43.0 43.0 44.0 42.5 43.0 43.5 42.0 43.0 41.0 NA 41.5 41.0 42.0

4.5 7.0 5.0 4.5 NA 5.0 6.0 3.0 NA NA 4.5 4.5 4.5 NA 7.0 5.0 3.5 5.5 3.5 NA 5.5 6.5 3.5 6.0 NA 3.5 3.5 3.0 5.0 3.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 NA 5.5 4.0 5.5 4.5 3.5 5.5 3.5 5.5 4.5 4.0 6.5 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.5 3.5 NA 3.5 4.5 5.0

60.0 63.0 54.5 53.0 63.5 50.5 48.5 47.0 55.0 54.5 53.0 65.5 50.0 53.0 55.0 53.0 57.0 57.0 53.5 53.0 57.0 57.5 50.0 56.5 55.5 53.0 53.5 58.5 60.5 51.5 48.5 54.0 54.0 65.5 63.5 57.5 63.0 49.5 47.0 47.0 54.0 52.5 52.5 53.0 56.0 52.0 56.5 53.5 56.0 53.0 54.0 56.0

29.5 28.5 29.0 30.5 NA 32.0 31.0 19.0 28.0 25.5 NA 31.0 21.5 29.0 30.0 NA 30.0 29.5 29.0 29.0 NA 30.0 21.5 31.0 29.0 29.0 27.5 31.5 31.0 29.0 27.0 30.0 30.0 33.5 33.0 26.5 28.5 26.0 25.0 24.0 27.5 28.0 27.0 30.5 33.5 28.0 31.0 28.0 NA 26.5 26.5 28.0

3.0 5.5 2.5 2.0 NA 2.0 4.0 0.0 2.5 2.0 NA 2.5 0.0 3.5 3.5 NA 3.0 4.5 3.0 0.0 NA 4.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 1.5 2.0 5.5 4.5 2.0 2.5 3.5 4.0 4.5 4.5 3.0 3.5 2.0 1.5 1.5 2.0 3.5 3.5 3.0 2.5 1.5 5.0 2.5 NA 3.0 4.0 5.0

56.0 61.0 40.0 57.5 53.0 56.5 65.0 60.0 43.0

25.5 26.0 NA NA 27.5 25.0 26.0 28.0 23.5

2.0 4.0 NA NA 1.0 1.0 4.0 3.0 1.0

196 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

S E L E C T T I R E R AT I N G S

to you, such as winter grip, tread life, ride comfort, and rolling resistance.

EVERY SEASON: COVERED While regular all-season tires typically come in T-speed ratings (up to 118 mph), many new cars come with performance all-season tires in H- and V-speed ratings (with ceilings of 130 mph and 149 mph, respectively). These deliver better grip, but at the cost of some tread life. Most don’t carry a price penalty for performance, and there are some bargains available. A few also offer good snow and ice traction.

TRADITIONAL TRUCK TIRES

Top Tires It doesn’t pay to skimp when buying replacement treads

hopping for new tires can be a daunting task. You can look at and feel them, but there’s no way to tell simply by how they look which provides the best grip, the longest life, or the shortest stopping distance. That’s why Consumer Reports tests 50 or more tire models each year, with each going through as many as 14 rigorous tests.

SPEND MORE, GET MORE We’ve found you generally get what you pay for. No matter the type, tires that combine the best grip with the longest tread life may cost a little more, but will likely be worth it in the long run. For example, a $130 tire that will last twice as long as an $87 tire is a better bet, assuming other factors are equal. Still, the cheaper tire may be just fine if you won’t be keeping your car for long. ConsumerReports.org/cars

Many tires have a pro-rated tread-wear warranty—but consult our tread life Rating or mileage for a direct comparison on how long a tire will last. We have found some tires with lower rolling resistance allowed our test cars to get one to two more mpg than tires with the highest rolling resistance. But the mileage you get with brand-new, low-resistance tires may initially be worse than the old, end-of-life tires you are replacing. This is because tires with tens of thousands of miles of wear have less tread and behave more like low-rolling resistance tires. We recommend sticking to the same type and size tire that originally came on your car. First, check the Ratings for ones that provide good braking and handling capabilities, as well as good hydroplaning resistance, which can help you avoid an accident. After that, look for models rated highly in areas important

Big SUVs and pickup trucks have specifically-designed tires, although many can also be used on crossovers. All-season or all-terrain SUV/truck tires are designed for the rigors of towing and carrying heavy loads. All-terrain tires also provide some off-road grip.

HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST? Our latest test of all-season and performance all-season car tires includes the projected wear-out mileage in place of the five point tread-life Rating scale. To determine longevity, we test tread life at a contract lab in Texas where each tire is driven 16,000 miles (12,000 miles for ultra-high-performance tires) on public roads. We’ve been conducting this test for several years. We found that close to half of the 48 all-season and performance all-season tires that we tested could be expected to last 65,000 miles or more, and about a half dozen could top 85,000 miles. A rewarding surprise: Long tread life doesn’t necessarily bring much of a price premium, if any. Our tread life estimates let you compare the expected miles-to-wear-out for the specific tires we tested, but your actual experience will vary by how, where, and what vehicle you drive, among many other factors. Michelin was a standout in our latest tests. The three Michelin models we CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

197

S E L E C T T I R E R AT I N G S

rated all met or exceeded their mileage warranty, and also did very well overall in our performance tests. But the longest-wearing tire came from Pirelli. We estimate that its P4 Four Seasons Plus could last a whopping 100,000 miles. Falling short. Models we project— based on our tests—to fall short of their mileage claim by 15,000 miles or more include the Continental TrueContact and PureContact (H, V), Sumitomo HTR Enhance L/X (T, H, V), Kumho Solus TA71 and TA11, Firestone Precision Touring, and Bridgestone Serenity Plus. These tires are still viewed as longwearing tires, and your actual mileage will vary based on many different driving factors. The Nokian eNTYRE 2.0, with an 80,000-mile warranty, was the biggest outlier in our tests. We calculate that it would wear out in 35,000 miles. Nokian now offers a supplemental warranty and will replace the tire for free if it

wears out in 40,000 miles. What’s wrong with warranties. If your new tires wear out prematurely, the manufacturer’s pro-rated tire warranty typically provides only a partial credit, representing the miles you didn’t get, good toward the purchase of an identical or comparable tire from the same maker. The credit is applied to the dealer’s retail price, but that price is often fictional due to frequent discounting. On top of that, restrictions abound. Your tires may have to show even wear across the tread or the deal’s off. You may also have to document in writing that you had the tires rotated at the prescribed intervals, usually every 5,000 miles, since they were new.

have ample sources with which to compare prices for the tires you want. We recommend replacing all four tires at the same time for the best balance of handling and grip: ○ Check online first. Ask for a final price, including shipping and any extras. ○ Check with local retailers and ask if they can meet or beat the online prices. Also ask what they’d charge to mount and balance tires you buy elsewhere. ○ Be sure to compare the final “out the door” price including mounting, balancing, wheel alignment, and disposal of your old tires. ○ Extras like free lifetime tire rotations and a free replacement road-hazard guarantee may tilt the scales to one retailer over another. ○ If your car has a tire-pressure monitoring system you may face a modest extra charge, and if the sensors in the wheels need to be replaced, expect to pay $30 or more per sensor.

WHERE TO SHOP Between looking at traditional tire stores, local car dealerships, big-box superstores, and Internet retailers, you

Quick Recommendations

Worse

Snow Traction

Ice Braking

Ride

Noise

Rolling Resistance

Tread Life, Miles

OTHER

Hydroplaning

COMFORT

C C C C C

X X C C C

X X X X C

X X Z X X

C V C C C

C X X X C

Z X X X Z

X Z X Z X

90,000

X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X

V C V V V V V C C C

C C C C C C C C C C

X X X X X X C C C X

X X C C C C C V V B

C B V C V V V V V B

C X X X X X C X C X

X X X C C X X C C X

Z X X V C C C X X X

ALL SEASON TIRES d

Michelin Defender

WINTER DRIVING

Handling

Michelin Defender Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus

THREE-SEASON DRIVING

Wet Braking

Best balance of long tread life and good all-weather performance:

SCORE

Rec.

ALL-SEASON TIRES

BRAND & MODEL

Better

Dry Braking

These are high-scoring models that stand out for the reasons below.

Recommended

Michelin Defender

Continental TrueContact

General Altimax RT43

Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus

Nexen Aria AH7 Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season Kumho Solus TA11 Cooper CS5 Grand Touring

Yokohama Avid Ascend

BFGoodrich Advantage T/A

Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring

Sumitomo HTR Enhance L/X

Toyo Extensa A/S

Firestone Precision Touring

Firestone FR710

GT Radial Champiro VP1

60,000 65,000 100,000 75,000 80,000 55,000 70,000 90,000 75,000 65,000 70,000 60,000 55,000 55,000 45,000

Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus 198 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Snow Traction

Ice Braking

Ride

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X C X X C X V C C C C C V V C C

X C C X X X X X C X C C C C C C

X X X X X Z X X X X C X X X C X

X X X C C C X C C C X C C C X B

V C C C C V C B C V V V V V V B

X X X C X X X X C C X X X X C C

Worse

OTHER Tread Life, Miles

Hydroplaning

COMFORT

Handling

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus Michelin Premier A/S

WINTER DRIVING

Wet Braking

Best balance of long tread life and good all-weather grip:

THREE-SEASON DRIVING

Better

Dry Braking

PERFORMANCE ALL-SEASON TIRES H-RATED

SCORE

Rec.

BRAND & MODEL

Recommended

Noise

These are high-scoring models that stand out for the reasons below.

Rolling Resistance

Quick Recommendations

X X X X X X X X X C C C C X C C

X Z X Z X X Z C C Z X X C C V X

55,000

PERFORMANCE ALL SEASON, H-RATED d d

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus

Continental PureContact Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus Michelin Premier A/S

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max

General Altimax RT43

Nokian eNTYRE 2.0

Nexen N5000 Plus

Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring

Dunlop SP Sport 7000 A/S

Kumho Solus TA31

Toyo Versado Noir

Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring

BFGoodrich Advantage T/A

Sumitomo HTR Enhance L/X

Falken Ziex ZE950 A/S

GT Radial Champiro VP1

70 70

70,000 85,000 60,000 65,000 35,000 75,000 60,000 65,000 55,000 65,000 60,000 65,000 55,000 55,000 50,000

Michelin Premier A/S

ConsumerReports.org/cars

X X

OTHER Tread Life, Miles

X X

Worse

Noise

COMFORT

Rolling Resistance

Michelin Premier A/S Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus General Altimax RT43 Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Yokohama Avid Ascend

Ride

Continental PureContact

Ice Braking

Hydroplaning

WINTER DRIVING

Handling

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus

Better

X X

V V

X X

X C

80,000

PERFORMANCE ALL SEASON, V-RATED d

Michelin Premier A/S

THREE-SEASON DRIVING Wet Braking

Michelin Premier A/S Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus

SCORE

Dry Braking

Best balance of long tread life and mostly good all-weather performance:

BRAND & MODEL Rec.

PERFORMANCE ALL-SEASON TIRES V-RATED

Recommended

Snow Traction

55,000

65,000

55,000

70,000

75,000

V C C X

C X X C

X X Z X

C C C C

V B V B

X X X C

X X X X

C V V C

85,000

Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring

Kumho Solus TA71

Bridgestone DriveGuard Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season BFGoodrich Advantage T/A

X X X X

85,000

56 56

Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring

Sumitomo HTR Enhance L/X

V C C V

C C C C

X C X X

C X C V

V V V B

X C X X

C C C X

C C X C

60,000

Falken Ziex ZE950 A/S

X X X X

50,000 40,000 50,000 60,000

55,000 60,000 55,000

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

199

S E L E C T T I R E R AT I N G S

Quick Recommendations These are high-scoring models that stand out for the reasons below.

THREE-SEASON DRIVING

Snow Traction

Ice Braking

Ride

Noise

Rolling Resistance

Tread Life

d Hankook Ventus S1 noble 2

X X

Z X

Z Z

B C

C C

X X

C X

V V

X X C C X C

X X X X X C

Z X X X X Z

C C C C C C

C C X V C C

C X X X C X

X C C V C X

X X X X V Z

C C Z X C Z

UHP ALL SEASON d Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3

BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S d Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season d Cooper Zeon RS3-A

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All Season

UHP SUMMER TIRES

Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTZ

General G-Max AS-03

Falken ZE950 A/S

Nexen N7000 Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position Sumitomo HTR A/S PO1

X X Z X Z C

Kumho Ecsta 4x

Nitto Motivo

Falken Azenis PT722 A/S

X X X X X X C C

C C V V V C C V

X X C X X X X C

X Z X X X Z Z Z

C V X X C B B C

V V C C C B V C

X X C C C X X X

X X X C X C C X

C C C X C C X X

C C Z Z Z C X C

Toyo Proxes 4 Plus

Maxxis Victra MA-Z4S

Yokohama Avid ENVigor

Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval AS

Wet Handling

Hydroplaning

Snow Traction

Ice Braking

Ride

Noise

Rolling Resistance

Tread Life

OTHER

Dry Handling

COMFORT

Z Z X Z

Z Z Z Z

Nokian zLine Continental Extreme Contact d DW d Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2

Z X Z Z

X X C X

X X X X

V C C X

V X C C

X Z X

Z X X

Z Z Z

Z X Z

Z Z Z

d Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 d Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

C C X

X C X

X X C

V C C

Z Z

X X

Z X

X X

Z Z

X X

X C

V C

B C

Other very good choices:

UHP SUMMER

Yokohama ADVAN Sport V105 Nokian zLine Continental Extreme Contact DW Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

d d d d

Pirelli P Zero

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Yokohama ADVAN Sport V105

Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position Toyo Proxes T1 Sport

200 CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

WINTER DRIVING

Z Z Z Z

Pirelli P Zero Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Pirelli P Zero

THREE-SEASON DRIVING Wet Braking

SCORE

Dry Braking

BRAND & MODEL Rec.

Best overall:

OTHER

Hydroplaning

Hankook Ventus S1 noble 2 Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season Cooper Zeon RS3-A

COMFORT

Worse

Handling

Other very good choices:

Rec.

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All Season

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric d All Season Continental Extreme Contact DWS

UHP ALL-SEASON TIRES Best for all weather conditions:

WINTER DRIVING

Wet Braking

SCORE

Better

Dry Braking

BRAND & MODEL

Recommended

Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 GT Radial Champiro UHP1

64 64

NA NA

Sumitomo HTR ZIII

X Z Z X X

Yokohama S.Drive

X X X X X

Z X X X X

Kumho Ecsta LE Sport

X X X X X

Falken Azenis FK-453

Z X Z X X

V X X C C

X X X C C

C C C C C

V V V V V

ConsumerReports.org/cars

Quick Recommendations These are high-scoring models that stand out for the reasons below. Hankook Dynapro ATM

Michelin LTX M/S2

ALL-SEASON TRUCK TIRES

Better

Worse

Snow Traction

Ice Braking

Ride

Noise

Rolling Resistance

Tread Life

OTHER

Hydroplaning

COMFORT

Handling

WINTER DRIVING

Wet Braking

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus Cooper Discoverer SRX

THREE-SEASON DRIVING

SCORE

Recommended

Dry Braking

Very good choices for most weather conditions:

BRAND & MODEL

Goodyear Assurance CS

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus Cooper Discoverer SRX

Nokian WR G3 SUV

Uniroyal Laredo Cross Country Tour

Firestone Destination LE2

X X Z Z

X X X X

Z Z X Z

X X C X

C C C C

C C X C

X C X X

X C V C

X V X C

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z X Z Z

X C X C C C C X C X

C C X X X C X X X C

Z Z Z Z X Z Z Z X Z

C C C C C C V C V B

C C C V C C C V V V

C C C C X C X C C V

Z X C X X X Z C C V

V V C X B C C C C B

C X X V X V C C C V

Rec.

Best for all-weather conditions and excellent tread life: Michelin LTX M/S2 Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season

ALL-SEASON TRUCK d Michelin LTX M/S2 d TripleTred All-Season d d d

ALL-TERRAIN TRUCK TIRES Best for all-weather conditions and long tread life: Hankook Dynapro AT-M Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar Michelin LTX A/T2 Cooper Discoverer A/TW Very good choices for most weather conditions: Falken WildPeak A/T01

General Grabber HTS

Falken WildPeak H/T 01

Hankook Dynapro HT

GT Radial Savero HT2

Toyo Open Country H/T

Kumho Road Venture APT KL51

Maxxis Bravo HT-770

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus

Geostar GS716

Sunny SN3606

Guide to the Ratings

ConsumerReports.org/cars

THREE-SEASON DRIVING Hydroplaning

Snow Traction

Ice Braking

Ride

Noise

Rolling Resistance

Tread Life

OTHER

Handling

WINTER DRIVING COMFORT

Wet Braking

SCORE Dry Braking

BRAND & MODEL

66 64

X X Z

C C X

C X C

Z Z Z

X X X

C C V

X C C

C C C

X C C

Z X C

Cooper Discoverer A/T3

Nokian Rotiiva AT

Nexen Rodian AT Pro

Kumho Road Venture AT KL78

Dick Cepek Trail Country

Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S

Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 2

Firestone Destination A/T

Rec.

Overall score is based on up to 14 tests, with braking, handling, and hydroplaning resistance more heavily weighted for most tires. Braking tests on ice are from 10 mph; on dry and wet pavement from 60 mph. Handling for many tires combines how well a tire did in wet and dry cornering grip, steering feel, and an emergency handling maneuver. For UHP tires, (dry) handling includes dry cornering grip, avoidance maneuver performance, and subjective steering feel. Where noted, wet handling includes wet cornering grip and handling on our wet circuit. Hydroplaning denotes a tire’s ability to resist skimming along the surface of standing water. Snow traction tests denote how far a vehicle has to travel to accelerate from 5 to 20 mph on flat, moderately packed snow. Ride comfort and Noise are evaluated subjectively, on rough and smooth roads. Rolling resistance, as measured on a dynamometer, is a factor in fuel economy. Tread life indicates wear potential from our 12,000- or 16,000-mile mixed vehicle driving test.

ALL-TERRAIN TRUCK d Hankook Dynapro AT-M Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain

d Adventure with Kevlar d Michelin LTX A/T2 d Cooper Discoverer A/TW d Falken WildPeak A/T01 Maxxis Bravo AT-771

BFGoodrich Rugged Terrain T/A

CONSUMER REPORTS NEW CARS

201

THE CONSUMER REPORTS DIFFERENCE

We Buy all of the products we rate. We Test in our own independent, state-of-the-art facilities. We Don’t Take Ads or accept free samples. We Tell You the Truth and don’t allow our name to be used for promotional purposes.

7lp8shgrv33 magzus.org

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TIRE RATINGS